Phil Mickelson releases statement following major gambling allegations

LIV Golf star Phil Mickelson has issued a statement following major gambling allegations made on Thursday. The six-time major champion allegedly wagered $1 billion on sports over the last 30 years, including a bet on a Ryder Cup he participated in.

Billy Walters highlighted some of Mickelson’s gambling habits in an upcoming autobiography. In the story, he accused Mickelson of placing a $400,000 wager on himself and his team to win the Ryder Cup in 2012.

Mickelson denies the claims made in the book. He sent out a tweet on Thursday.

“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,” Mickelson wrote. “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.

I have also been very open about my gambling addiction.  I have previously conveyed my remorse, took responsibility, have…

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) August 10, 2023

Mickelson has faced scrutiny since leaving the PGA Tour for LIV Golf. These accusations certainly don’t help his image.

“In late September 2012, Phil called me from Medinah Country Club just outside Chicago, site of the 39^th Ryder Cup matches between the United States and Europe,” Walters claims. “(Mickelson) was feeling supremely confident that the American squad led by Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, and Phil himself was about to reclaim the Cup from the Euros. He was so confident that he asked me to place a $400,000 wager for him on the U.S. team to win.”

Walters claims he refused to place the bet for Mickelson. He admitted that he didn’t know if the golfer made the wager through another party.

Mickelson allegedly bet $1 billion on sports

The alleged attempt to gamble on the Ryder Cup would be pretty shocking. What makes the story even crazier is the amount in which Mickelson is accused of gambling over the past three decades.

Walters places the figure around $1 billion. That’s almost unfathomable for most of us.

“Based on our relationship and what I’ve since learned from others, 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.”

Mickelson did not exactly deny the claims regarding the amount in his statement.