Phil Mickelson's Massive Gambling Losses Exposed in Memoir

A recently published memoir has unveiled staggering revelations about the profound gambling addiction that professional golfer Phil Mickelson endured.

Gambler: Secrets from a Life at Risk, penned by Billy Walters, delves into the years spanning 2010 to 2014 when Mickelson ventured over $1 billion and suffered nearly $100 million in losses through sports betting. In 2011, he maintained an average of nine daily bets, placed 1,115 wagers of $110,000 to win $100,000, and engaged in 858 chances of $220,000 to win $200,000. These wagers alone accumulate to a staggering $311 million in stakes.

Mickelson's extravagant and relentless gambling behavior extended beyond these instances. On June 22, 2011, he astoundingly placed 43 wagers on MLB games, coinciding with a day featuring 15 games. This translated to an average of almost three bets per game, resulting in a substantial loss of $143,500 for the accomplished 45-time PGA Tour champion.

Remarkably, Mickelson even reached out to Walters in 2012, requesting that a bet of $400,000 be placed on the American team's victory in the Ryder Cup on his behalf. This act contradicts the rules upheld within golf and virtually all professional sports. Walters ultimately declined Mickelson's proposal and admonished him for the request.

Walters, renowned as the most successful American gambler, draws his claims in the upcoming book, set for release on August 23, from "two highly credible sources" and an assemblage of meticulous HighStakes betting records. In the book, Walters states:

"The only other person I know who surpassed that volume is me."

Mickelson's struggle with gambling addiction has been documented previously. In 2015, investigations revealed that $3 million had been transferred from Mickelson to an intermediary linked to an illegal gambling network. In a 2022 interview with Sports Illustrated, Mickelson candidly labeled his gambling conduct as "reckless" and "embarrassing," openly acknowledging his battle with addiction.

In a social media announcement in June, Mickelson asserted that he had refrained from gambling for several years.