Mickelson cracks joke over gambling controversy as he chases huge LIV Golf prize

12 August 2023 , 22:29

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Phil Mickelson was in a playful mood at LIV Bedminster after allegations about his gambling habits were made public. (Image: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Allegations surrounding Phil Mickelson's gambling habits have been the talk of the golfing world this week, but it has not held the lefty back on the course as he chases his first LIV Golf win and $4million in prize money.

In fact, the 53-year-old was cracking jokes on the course at Trump Bedminster in New Jersey on Friday, carding a tidy round of one-under-par before surging into contention on Saturday with a stellar round of 67, putting him at five-under in second place, four shots behind Australia's Cameron Smith with 18 holes to play.

On the ninth tee on Friday, the six-time major champion laughed as a fan mooted a $1,000 wager on the result of the hole. “I would, but I’m not a gambling man,” Mickelson joked, according to Golf.com.

Mickelson, of course, was a gambling man, opening up on his addiction in recent years, and staggering alleged details were made public this week in an excerpt of the forthcoming book, Gambler: Secrets From A Life At Risk, by Billy Walters, a longtime friend of Mickelson and a renowned gambler.

Walters claimed, in the passage published by Golf Digest, that Mickelson had gambled more than $1billion and lost more than $100million while gambling. Walters alleges Mickelson placed nine or more bets of $110,000 a day at the height of his addiction. He also claims that Mickelson placed 43 bets on Major League Baseball games on one particular day.

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But the headline claim was the suggestion Mickelson had requested Walters, his bookmaker, place a $400,000 bet on the 2012 Ryder Cup, in which he was playing for Team USA. Walters claims he did not take the bet, and Mickelson denied this week ever doing so.

Billy Walters alleges Phil Mickelson asked him to place a $400,000 bet on the 2012 Ryder Cup.

Mickelson was said to be hugely confident that the United States would win, but had he placed the wager he would have lost, with Europe pulling off the "Miracle at Medinah" on the final day in a remarkable comeback victory.

"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 said in a statement on Thursday. "I never bet on the Ryder Cup. I have been very open about my gambling addiction.

"I have previously conveyed my remorse, took responsibility, have got help, have been fully committed to therapy that has positively impacted me and I feel good about where I am now."

This is, by far, Mickelson's best performance on LIV since turning his back on the PGA Tour last year. His best result was a tie for eighth in Chicago 11 months ago.

Walters, 77, was found guilty of insider trading in 2017 and was sentenced to five years in prison, as well as being slapped with a $10million fine. However, his sentence was commuted by Donald Trump in the final hours of his presidency in 2021.

Sam Frost