"I've even been telling mates who've been ringing, 'I wish it was me'," the son Brett, himself a 48-year-old father of two, said.

Brett still reported for work, even after the lotto-like win? "It's a family company, I have to front."

On March 2 the pair placed bets with the TAB at Queanbeyan Kangaroos totalling $411, banking on Vancouver in the Golden Slipper, Kermadec in the Doncaster Mile and US golfer Jordan Spieth in the US Masters.

With Vancouver and Kermadec saluting, the pair got up at 2am on Monday to watch 21-year-old Spieth lead all the way at Augusta. While Spieth won more than $2.3 million, the father-son duo collected $405,900.

"It sunk in on Sunday what was happening ... all [Spieth] had to do was keep his cool, which the kid's got," Brett said.

"Me and Dad were in contact with each other on the phone, my nerves were shot."

Brett said he and his father were only part-time punters, claiming they only had a bet "on and off when we like something".

"It's something we started about 10 years ago together," Brett said.

"He was liking horses in the Melbourne Cup, I was liking horses ... between the two of us, I'd get one leg, he'd get the other, so we thought we might as well pick one each and hope for the best.

"We've torn up tickets, too, don't worry ... so it's nice when you get them."

Brett said it was his father who tipped Spieth for the Masters, in November, long before he even took out the Australian Open.

Brett said they'd celebrated with "a couple of beers", but said the money would be quickly spent.

"I've got a place down the coast, I'm going to redo the kitchen and revamp it a bit, put some away for a rainy day and most probably next year get a boat and take the young fella for a fish.

"Dad's semi-retired, he's enjoying life ... he'll enjoy it a bit more now."

Originally published as Queanbeyan punter 'Brett' and his dad collect $405,000 on bet by the Canberra Times.