Phil Mickelson Accused of Wagering Over $1 Billion, Including Ryder Cup Bet, in New Book by Billy Walters
Renowned gambler Billy Walters has made shocking claims about professional golfer Phil Mickelson’s extensive gambling habits in his upcoming book, “Gambler: Secrets from a Life of Risk.” According to Walters, Mickelson has wagered more than $1 billion over the past three decades, including a proposed $400,000 bet on the 2012 Ryder Cup when he was playing for Team USA.
In an excerpt obtained by The Fire Pit Collective, Walters alleges that Mickelson denied betting on the Ryder Cup, stating, “While it is well known that I always enjoy a friendly wager on the course, I would never undermine the integrity of the game.” Walters, however, provides detailed records and information from two reliable sources to support his claims.
Walters, who is widely known as America’s most famous gambler and boasts a winning streak of over 30 years, ended his betting partnership with Mickelson in 2014. The following year, Walters was indicted in an insider trading case that involved allegations of him passing illegal stock tips to Mickelson. Although Mickelson was never charged, he had to repay approximately $1 million he earned from the stock deal. Walters was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison.
In his book, Walters expresses his belief that Mickelson could have helped him avoid prison if he had testified and told the truth about their relationship. Walters claims that Mickelson had offshore accounts with limits of $400,000 for college games and $400,000 for NFL games.
According to the detailed records provided by Walters and additional sources, Mickelson’s gambling between 2010 and 2014 included numerous bets. These bets ranged in amounts, such as betting $110,000 to win $100,000 on 1,115 occasions and betting $220,000 to win $200,000 on 858 occasions, totaling just over $311 million. Mickelson also placed 7,065 bets on football, basketball, and baseball.
Walters asserts that Mickelson’s gambling losses were much higher than previously reported, approaching $100 million instead of $40 million. Overall, he claims that Mickelson wagered a total of over $1 billion in the past three decades.
Responding to these allegations, Mickelson acknowledged his gambling addiction and expressed remorse for his past reckless behavior. He stated, “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.”
Walters recounts his first meeting with Mickelson at the 2006 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and their subsequent betting partnership. One of the most shocking moments described by Walters occurred during the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah when Mickelson asked him to bet $400,000 for him on the U.S. team winning. Walters refused, citing the potential repercussions and comparing it to Pete Rose’s ban from baseball for betting on his own team.
The book’s release coincides with Mickelson’s suspension by the PGA Tour in early 2022 for his involvement with Saudi-backed LIV Golf in recruiting PGA Tour players. Mickelson signed with LIV for a reported bonus of over $150 million. Rory McIlroy, who has had tensions with Mickelson regarding the divide between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, took the opportunity to make a sarcastic comment about Mickelson’s Ryder Cup claims.
Walters concludes his book by highlighting Mickelson’s substantial gambling accounts and stating, “You don’t get those types of accounts without betting millions of dollars.”