Just when it had gone quiet on the ‘Nappy Factor front, the strange sporting phenomenon has resurfaced with the news that one lucky Betfair punter won big on golfer Stuart Appleby, after backing him at a whopping 600.00 (599/1) on the betting exchange.
Appleby started his defence of the title he won last year in understated fashion as he shot a one over par 74 in the first round of the Mercedes Championships, and ended the tournament’s first day eight shots adrift of the leader.
Appleby started the final round four shots off the lead with a strong field ahead of him, including overnight leader and 1.48 favourite Vijay Singh. But a closing round of 67 was enough to see him win the tournament by one shot from Jonathan Kaye and two shots from a charging Tiger Woods.
There were other contenders who traded at 3 or less on Betfair, including Tiger Woods (2.92), Jonathan Kaye (2.50), Ernie Els (2.00) and Vijay Singh (1.48).
Betfair spokesman Caspar Hill commented: “600.00 (599/1) will probably be one of the biggest prices we see matched on Betfair this season. There were rumours Appleby was going to withdraw from the tournament with a hip injury, which helped account for these huge odds. However, he must have been inspired at the thought of fatherhood which is imminent for him!”
This is yet another example of the Nappy Factor, where sportsmen seem to experience a noticeable upturn in performance in close proximity to the birth of their child. Bournemouth striker James Hayter scored a Football League’s fastest-ever hat-trick just three days after his girlfriend gave birth to their first son, while Phil Mickelson finally bagged his first Major in 2004, just after his wife had given birth to their first son in 2003.
These previous examples have seen the new father’s performance in the sporting arena improve after the birth, but in Appleby’s case, it seems to have happened before the birth of his child!
