Phil Mickelson has insisted he never bet on the Ryder Cup after it was alleged he wanted to do so while playing in the 2012 contest at Medinah.
In an excerpt from the forthcoming book: "Gambler: Secrets from a Life at Risk," by Billy Walters, Walters recounted details of the bets he and Mickelson formerly made together.
Walters writes that Mickelson was so confident that the United States would regain the Ryder Cup in 2012 that he asked Walters to bet $400,000 for him on that result.
Walters declined and writes that he had "no idea" if Mickelson made such a bet, one which would have lost as Europe recovered from 10-6 down to win by a point.
However, Mickelson has insisted he never bet on the Ryder Cup after it was alleged he wanted to do so while playing in the 2012 contest at Medinah.
In a statement released on social media after his pro-am round ahead of the LIV Golf event in New Jersey, Mickelson said: "I never bet on the Ryder Cup.
"While it is well known that I always enjoy a friendly wager on the course, I would never undermine the integrity of the game. I have also been very open about my gambling addiction.
"I have previously conveyed my remorse, took responsibility, have gotten help, have been fully committed to therapy that has positively impacted me, and I feel good about where I am now."
I never bet on the Ryder Cup. While it is well known that I always enjoy a friendly wager on the course, I would never undermine the integrity of the game.
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) August 10, 2023
I have also been very open about my gambling addiction. I have previously conveyed my remorse, took responsibility, have…
Days before the first LIV event last year, Mickelson told Sports Illustrated that he was embarrassed by his "reckless" gambling but insisted his decision to join the Saudi-funded breakaway had nothing to do with financial difficulty.
"My family and I are and have been financially secure for some time," the six-time major winner said.
"My gambling got to a point of being reckless and embarrassing. I had to address it. And I've been addressing it for a number of years. And for hundreds of hours of therapy.
"Gambling has been part of my life ever since I can remember but about a decade ago is when I would say it became reckless. It isn't a threat to me or my financial security. It was just a number of poor decisions."
A professional gambler, Walters went to prison in 2017 following a conviction on 10 counts of conspiracy, securities fraud and wire fraud related to "ill-gotten gains" trading Dean Foods stock. Walters shared insider information around some of those trades with Mickelson, who made multiple stock purchases totaling $931,000 and was forced by the Securities and Trade Commission to repay $1 million.
Walters wrote in his book, "Phil's gambling losses approached not $40 million as has been previously reported, but much closer to $100 million. In all, he wagered a total of more than $1 billion during the past three decades."
Walters was released from prison in 2020.
He asserts in his autobiography, co-authored by Armen Keteyian, that Mickelson wagered $110,000 to win $100,000 a total of 1,115 times; bet $220,000 to win $200,000 more than 1,300 times for a total of $311million.
He also states that in 2011 Mickelson made 3,154 bets, an average of nearly nine per day. On one day in 2011 (22 June), he made 43 bets on major league baseball games, resulting in $143,500 in losses.
Mickelson had earlier declined to comment on the book's claims. "I'm gonna pass today," he told Golfweek on Thursday.
Reporting: Reuters & PA
