Phil Mickelson has claimed that he did not place bets on the 2012 Ryder Cup following a book by well-known sports player Billy Walters.
In the book, Walters claims that he and Mickelson discussed betting on the Medinah tournament — which Mickelson denied in a statement to Sports Illustrated.
“I’ve never bet on the Ryder Cup,” Mickelson said. “While it’s well known that I’m always happy to make a friend bet on the pitch, I would never compromise the integrity of the game. I’ve also been very open about my gambling addiction.
“I have previously expressed my remorse, accepted responsibility, received help, fully committed to therapy that has had a positive impact on me and I feel good about where I am now.”
Mickelson is currently attending the LIV Golf event in Bedminster, NJ and declined to speak to reporters.
In a statement to SI, Phil Mickelson has denied having placed a bet on the 2012 Ryder Cup
Mickelson’s former gambling partner Billy Walters (pictured) has opened up about their relationship in his autobiography, claiming the golfer wagered $400,000 on the Ryder Cup
The six-time major champion, pictured with his wife Amy, is said to have made 858 wagers for $220,000 and 1,115 wagers for $110,000 from 2010-2014
Walters, one of the most successful American sports players in history, spoke about his relationship with the golfing legend in his autobiography, Gambler: Secrets from a Life at Risk, via Golf Digest.
Citing betting records and two “very reliable” sources, the Las Vegas businessman claims that from 2010 to 2014, Mickelson made 858 bets totaling $220,000 and 1,115 bets totaling $110,000, while estimating that its total losses over the past 30 years have surpassed the $1 billion mark.
“The only other person I know who has surpassed that amount is me,” he said.
Walters also claims that Mickelson, who has won six major championships in his illustrious golfing career, even attempted to place a $400,000 bet in 2012 on his own US team winning the Ryder Cup.
“Phil called me from the Medinah Country Club just outside of Chicago where the 39th Ryder Cup games between the United States and Europe were being played,” he recalled.
“He was extremely confident that the American team, led by Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson and Phil himself, would reclaim the trophy at the European Championships.” He was so confident that he asked me to place a $400,000 bet on the victory of the to place US teams.
“I couldn’t believe what I heard.”
Walters, who was sentenced to five years in prison for insider trading in 2017, says he then angrily asked Mickelson, “Have you lost your friggin’ mind?” before the California golfer withdrew his request. He remains unsure if he placed the bet elsewhere.
Walters claims Mickelson, one of the most successful golfers of modern times, amassed nearly $100 million in gambling losses over 30 years
He even claims the American wanted to bet $400,000 on his own US team winning the 2012 Ryder Cup
That year, Team USA suffered one of the biggest meltdowns in Ryder Cup history as Europe staged a miraculous comeback in Medinah.
After Walters and Mickelson first met at the 2006 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in Northern California, Walters and Mickelson reunited two years later at another Pro-Am in Charlotte, where the latter laid the groundwork for a potential gaming partnership.
The couple then formed this partnership, splitting all profits 50/50 and depositing an even share of the money to ensure an equal level of risk and reward over a five-year period.
But Walters added, “Phil said he had two offshore accounts that would require big action from him.” In all the decades I’ve worked with partners and beards, Phil has had accounts as large as anyone else’s I had ever seen.
“You don’t get accounts like this without wagering millions of dollars.”
Walters further revealed that in 2011 alone, Mickelson made 3,154 bets, which equates to nine a day.
On any given day that year, he placed 43 bets on major league baseball games, resulting in a $143,500 loss.
The 53-year-old has also placed a whopping 7,065 bets on football, basketball and baseball.
OTHER SPORTS STARS WHO HAVE LOST MILLIONS TO GAMBLING
John Daly
Arguably the most controversial golfer of all time, Daly lost over $55 million between 1991 and 2007 after wagering around $90 million.
The American has had a string of infamous gambling stories including losing $1.65 million in five hours in Las Vegas, spending two straight days playing blackjack and slots, and trying his hand at slots that Cost $5,000 per lap.
Charles Barkley
The former NBA star once admitted to losing over $10 million in sports betting, losing $2.5 million in just six hours at his lowest point.
He has also previously claimed that he lost 10 to 20 different $1 million bets in his lifetime.
In 2008, Wynn Casino filed a civil lawsuit to recover Barkley’s $400,000 in gambling losses, which resulted in Barkley taking a betting break.
Floyd Mayweather
Nicknamed “money,” Mayweather has amassed tons of it over the years, meaning he’s had no problem making some mind-blowing bets.
Between 2012 and 2015, the boxing legend netted no less than $2 million in three different winning endeavors. However, he was not always as successful as in the ring.
One of the most notorious losses of Mayweather’s betting career came when he wagered $13 million on the Denver Broncos winning Super Bowl XLVIII but the Seattle Seahawks winning 43-8.
Walters says he knocked out Mickelson right away, but isn’t sure he placed the bet elsewhere
Mickelson’s problems with sports gambling have been well documented over the years. Court documents from a 2015 money laundering case show that nearly $3 million was wired from him to an agent in an “illegal gambling operation.”
And six years later, the Detroit News revealed that court documents in a 2007 lawsuit also linked him to an alleged mob bookie.
Although he was never charged, Mickelson’s gambling habits were public knowledge throughout his golfing career, during which he amassed $97 million in PGA Tour on-course earnings.
He also signed a lucrative multi-year deal with Saudi Arabia-funded rebel tour LIV Golf, estimated to be worth $200 million.