Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Des Smyth’s son hits it big in Irish lotto

The son of Irish golfer Des Smyth hit the jackpot on the Emerald Isle.

Greg Smyth, 24, won nearly $14 million in the Irish National Lottery, the Champions Tour announced Aug. 14.

Smyth, of Baltray, County Louth, is studying for a degree in horticulture.

His father, who is playing in this week's Jeld-Wen Tradition in Sunriver, Ore., called the news "surreal."

"Being so far away from things, it's hard to grasp," said Smyth, who shot 1-under 71 and is four strokes off the lead. "We got a call in the hotel at 6:20 a.m. this morning. Usually when you get a call that early, it's not good, but he assured us right at the start that it was good news he was about to tell us. I played today but honestly can't remember a single shot I hit. I was thinking about him all day. He'll be well advised for sure. I just hope he takes it."

The elder Smyth, 55, is a two-time winner in six seasons on the Champions Tour. This year, he is 74th on the money list with $123,132.

Greg Smyth bought the 4-euro quick-pick ticket Aug. 13 in Drogheda, where the family resides. He discovered that he had won while eating breakfast.

The winning ticket was worth 9,426,636 euros, or $13,962,612 at today's exchange rate.

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