Phil Mickelson guess greater than $1 billion on sports activities over a 30-year interval, in keeping with legendary sports activities bettor Billy Walters.
Walters’ guide, “The Gambler,” is ready to be launched Aug. 22 and is co-authored with longtime investigative journalist Armen Keteyian.
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The extent of Mickelson’s betting was lined in a guide excerpt printed on the golf website Hearth Pit Collective.
Walters writes within the guide that he had a betting partnership with Mickelson for a number of years, which means that Walters would provide Mickelson with betting ideas that the golf star, a notoriously unsuccessful gambler, would be capable to place at excessive limits {that a} profitable handicapper like Walters may by no means dream of.
Mickelson declined touch upon the accusations Thursday whereas leaving Trump Nationwide Bedminster after an LIV Golf pro-am.
In response to what Walters says are “detailed betting data and extra data offered by the sources”, between 2010-14 alone Mickelson guess $110,000 to win $100,000 over 1,110 occasions, and $220,000 to win $200,000 almost 900 occasions.
In all, these bets alone totalled greater than $300 million.
In the meantime, simply in 2011, Mickelson allegedly made greater than 3,000 bets – a median of just about 9 per day – and had at some point in June of that yr the place he misplaced $143,500 after making 43 bets on baseball video games.
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“Primarily based on our relationship and what I’ve since discovered from others, Phil’s playing losses [between 2010 and 2014] approached not $40 million as has been beforehand reported, however a lot nearer to $100 million,” Walters writes.
“In all, he wagered a complete of greater than $1 billion through the previous three many years.”
Walters says he didn’t have a difficulty with the dimensions of Mickelson’s wagers.
“As I stated, Phil favored to gamble as a lot as anybody I’ve ever met,” Walters writes.
“Frankly, given Phil’s annual revenue and internet price on the time, I had no issues together with his betting. And nonetheless don’t. He’s a big-time gambler and big-time gamblers make huge bets. It’s his cash to spend how he desires.”
Walters additionally alleges within the guide that Mickelson requested for him to guess $400,000 on the golfer’s behalf on the U.S. Staff in 2012, which Mickelson competed for as a part of the Ryder Cup.
“I couldn’t consider what I used to be listening to. ‘Have you ever misplaced your f—— thoughts?’ Walters remarked within the guide.
‘Don’t you keep in mind what occurred 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. You’d threat all that for this? I need no a part of it.”
‘Alright, alright,’ he replied.”
Walters was not sure if Mickelson went by way of with the guess through the use of one other playing supply.
Mickelson responded on Twitter on Friday denying any wrongdoing.
“I by no means guess on the Ryder Cup. Whereas it’s well-known that I at all times take pleasure in a pleasant wager on the course, I’d by no means undermine the integrity of the sport,” he posted.
“I’ve additionally been very open about my playing habit. I’ve beforehand conveyed my regret, took duty, have gotten assist, have been absolutely dedicated to remedy that has positively impacted me and I be ok with the place I’m now.
Rory McIlroy was requested in regards to the allegation following his opening spherical of the FedEx St Jude Championship and couldn’t resist a swipe at Mickelson.
“At the very least he can guess on the Ryder Cup this yr as a result of he gained’t be part of it,” McIlroy stated.
Walters was convicted in 2017 of insider buying and selling regarding Dean Meals inventory.
He has denied wrongdoing, and maintained within the guide that if Mickelson instructed the “easy fact” in regards to the trades he would have been cleared.
Walters was granted clemency on the ultimate day of Donald Trump’s presidency.
This previous June, Mickelson claimed he has not gambled “in years” and his internet price is approaching $1 billion.
This story initially appeared on the New York Submit and has been reposted with permission