Phil Mickelson has denied having a bet on the 2012 Ryder Cup after entrepreneur Billy Walters alleged that Lefty requested his recommendation on striking a $400,000 guess on the U.S. team to win the cup. An excerpt revealed by way of Golf Digest from Walters’ e book “Gambler: Secrets from a Life at Risk” outlines Mickelson’s having a bet conduct and contains an alleged dialog between the 2 referring to a conceivable guess on Mickleson’s behalf for the team tournament of which he used to be a player.
After first opting for to steer clear of journalists at LIV Golf’s tournament at Trump National Bedminster, Mickelson broke his silence and pleaded his innocence within the topic.
“I never bet on the Ryder Cup,” Mickelson wrote in a statement. “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.”
The excerpt claims Walters and Mickelson entered a sports activities wagering partnership in May 2008 with Mickelson striking bets via quite a lot of offshore accounts. The six-time main champion would guess on baseball, soccer and basketball at each the pro and faculty ranges. However, Walters alleges Mickelson regarded as striking a hefty sum in September 2012 for the Ryder Cup whilst Mickelson used to be a member of the U.S. team:
In overdue September 2012, Phil referred to as me from Medinah Country Club simply outdoor Chicago, website online of the thirty ninth Ryder Cup suits between the United States and Europe. He used to be feeling supremely assured that the American squad led by way of Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, and Phil himself used to be about to reclaim the Cup from the Euros. He used to be so assured that he requested me to place a $400,000 guess for him on the U.S. team to win. I may no longer consider what I used to be listening to.
“Have you lost your f—ing mind?” I advised him. “Don’t you remember what happened to Pete Rose?” The former Cincinnati Reds supervisor used to be banned from baseball for having a bet on his personal team. “You’re seen as a modern-day Arnold Palmer” I added. “You’d risk all that for this? I want no part of it.”
Alright, alright, he spoke back.
The U.S. team in the end misplaced the 2012 Ryder Cup 14.5 to 13.5 after taking a considerable 10 to 6 lead into Sunday singles. Mickelson used to be amongst the ones avid gamers to lose his singles fit as Justin Rose overcame a overdue deficit by way of profitable the final two holes to turn the fit and defeat Mickelson 1 UP.
Despite his denial, whether or not Mickelson in truth positioned this guess stays unknown. His partnership with Walters got here to an finish simply two years later in 2014.
“My gambling got to a point of being reckless and embarrassing. I had to address it,” Mickelson advised Sports Illustrated final summer season. “And I’ve been addressing it for a number of years. And for hundreds of hours of therapy. I feel good where I’m at there. My family and I are and have been financially secure for some time.”