Rory McIlroy reignites Phil Mickelson feud with ferocious response to Ryder Cup gambling allegations: ‘At least he can bet on it this year’
Rory McIlroy reignites Phil Mickelson feud with ferocious response to Ryder Cup gambling allegations: ‘At least he can bet on it this year’
Rory McIlroy issued a brutal response to allegations that Phil Mickelson tried to bet $400,000 on the 2012 Ryder Cup, joking that the southpaw is free to gamble on this year’s match because he won’t be playing.
Mickelson has denied placing any bets on the Ryder Cup, in the wake of a book published by renowned sports bettor Billy Walters.
Walters claimed he and Mickelson discussed betting on the match in Medinah – something Mickelson denied in a statement to Sports Illustrated.
“I never bet on the Ryder Cup,” said Mickelson. “I would never undermine the integrity of the game. I have also been very open about my gambling addiction.
McIlroy was asked about the allegations during the FEDEX St Jude Championship. He said with a mischievous smile, “At least he can bet on the Ryder Cup this year, because he won’t be part of it.”
Rory McIlroy reacted brutally to claims that Phil Mickelson tried to bet on the Ryder Cup
Mickelson denied in a statement on Thursday that he placed a bet on the 2012 Ryder Cup
Europe and the US will meet near Rome next month. Mickelson, 53, has played in a record 12 Ryder Cups for the USA, but he has now accepted that the chapter of his career is over following his move to LIV Golf.
Mickelson’s prominence on the breakaway tour led to a war of words with McIlroy, one of the PGA Tour’s staunchest defenders in recent years.
The southpaw’s denial on Thursday came after Walters opened up about his relationship with the golfing legend in his autobiography, “Gambler: Secrets from a Life at Risk,” via Golf overview.
Citing betting and two “highly reliable” sources, the Las Vegas businessman claims that Mickelson made 858 $220,000 bets and 1,115 $110,000 bets between 2010 and 2014, while estimating his total losses over the past 30 years exceed $1 billion.
“The only other person I know who topped that kind of book is me,” he said.
Walters also claims that Mickelson, who has won six major championships during a glittering golf career, even attempted to place a $400,000 bet on his own US team to win the 2012 Ryder Cup.
“Phil called me from the Medinah Country Club just outside Chicago, the site of the 39th Ryder Cup games between the United States and Europe,” he recalls.
Mickelson’s former gambling partner Billy Walters (pictured) has opened up about their relationship in his autobiography – he claimed the golfer bet $400,000 on the Ryder Cup
The six-time Grand Champion, pictured with wife Amy, is believed to have placed 858 $220,000 bets and 1,115 $110,000 bets between 2010 and 2014.
He was confident that the American team led by Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson and Phil himself was on the verge of winning back the trophy from the European Championship. He was so confident that he asked me to place a $400,000 bet so he could win on the US team.
“I couldn’t believe what I heard.”
Walters, who was sentenced to five years in prison in 2017 for insider trading, says he then angrily asked Mickelson, “Have you lost your mind?” before the California golfer backtracked on his request. He remains unsure whether he placed the bet elsewhere.
Mickelson rejected the accusation, insisting “While I am known to 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’ve apologized before, taken responsibility, gotten help, fully committed to therapy that has had a positive impact on me, and I feel good about where I am now.”