Phil Mickelson ‘gambled $1 billion’ and ‘tried to bet on own Ryder Cup team’

Phil Mickelson gambled over $1billion on sports and even wagered $400,000 on a Ryder Cup that he was playing in, according to fresh allegations in a new book written by professional gambler Billy Walters.

An upcoming book written by Walters titled ‘Gambler, Secrets of a Life at Risk’ allegedly lifts the lid on the renowned Las Vegas businessman’s gambling relationship with Mickelson.

In the book, excerpted by the Fire Pit Collective on Thursday, Walters writes in detail about his gambling partnership with Mickelson and the six-time major champion’s betting habits.

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It is alleged that Mickelson would frequently bet at least $100,000 on sports matches including American football, baseball and basketball.

Walters, who was convicted and jailed for insider trading in 2017, estimates that Mickelson gambled over $100million between 2010 and 2014 and a total of $1billion across three decades of betting.

It is alleged that Mickelson made 3,154 bets in 2011 alone, which averages at almost nine per day.

Walters also discloses an alleged conversation he had with Mickelson about betting on the 2012 Ryder Cup. Mickelson was part of Team USA who lost in the ‘Miracle at Medinah’.

The Fire Pit Collective excerpt reads:

“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. He 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.

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“I could not believe what I was hearing.

“Have you lost your f—— mind?” I told him. “Don’t you remember what happened to Pete Rose?” The former Cincinnati Reds manager was banned from baseball for betting on his own 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 replied.

Walters also noted in the book that he was unsure whether Mickelson went on to place the bet.

He explains that he first met Mickelson back in 2006 at the AT&T Pebble Beach pro-am and formed a betting partnership in 2008 that lasted five years.

Walters writes: “Phil liked to gamble as much as anyone I’ve ever met. Frankly, given Phil’s annual income and net worth at the time, I had no problems with his betting. And still don’t. He’s a big-time gambler, and big-time gamblers make big bets. It’s his money to spend how he wants.”

Mickelson’s relationship with betting has long been known in the golfing world. He opened up on his gambling struggles in an interview with Sports Illustrated last year.

“Gambling has been part of my life ever since I can remember,” he said. “But about a decade ago is when I would say it became reckless. It’s embarrassing. I don’t like that people know. The fact is I’ve been dealing with it for some time.”

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.