Las Vegas businessman, professional gambler, and convicted felon, Billy Walters, claims in his new book that golfer Phil Mickelson placed bets exceeding $1 billion on sports and once attempted to wager $400,000 on the 2012 Ryder Cup, a tournament he participated in.
In an excerpt from the book titled Gambler, Secrets of a Life at Risk, Walters discusses how he met Mickelson in 2006 and entered into a gambling partnership two years later that lasted for five years.
Mickelson had a greater ability to wager larger sums due to his lesser-known reputation as a skilled gambler.
Together, they made substantial bets across various sports, with Mickelson reportedly losing close to $100 million.
The book also reveals specific gambling records from 2010 to 2014, indicating that Mickelson made thousands of bets during this period, sometimes placing bets of $110,000 to win $100,000.
New from Billy Walters book: Phil Mickelson made over $1 billion in bets, and attempted to gamble on a Ryder Cup he was playing in https://t.co/XNtw3TTA7K
— Joel Beall (@JoelMBeall) August 10, 2023
In a particular incident, Mickelson asked Walters to place a $400,000 bet on the U.S. team during the 2012 Ryder Cup, but Walters refused, citing the risk to Mickelson’s reputation. Mickelson’s representatives declined to comment on the allegations.
Truly staggering. https://t.co/fthOYJMMc2 pic.twitter.com/WUciwv1dOq
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) August 10, 2023
In a separate interview with Sports Illustrated in June 2022, Mickelson acknowledged his gambling history, admitting that it had become reckless and embarrassing.
He claimed to have addressed his gambling behavior through therapy and stated that it no longer posed a threat to his financial security.
Mickelson also addressed his habit of betting on practice rounds with fellow professionals, emphasizing that he had focused on addressing the potential negative consequences of off-course gambling and addiction.
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