As Phil Mickelson Attempts To Recover From His Gambling Addiction, a Dark Past Comes to the Forefront, Courtesy of His Nemesis

The known lefty Phil Mickelson has raked the headlines lately because of his LIV-PGA claims, his performance on the greens this LIV season, the monkey on his back, and his gambling-related controversies. Although the player has now clarified he’s burned the bridges that took him on the betting and wagering path, some anecdotes from the world of sports still keep him under speculation.

An excerpt from an American author’s controversial book has surfaced among golf enthusiasts, and the insinuations in it have made headlines, this time courtesy of Mickelson’s nemesis. What new gambling-related controversy is Lefty now a part of?

Shocking new insights into Phil Mickelson’s gambling secrets

The sports world, especially the golfing silo, has become privy to Phil Mickelson’s gambling issues. Over the years, many fellow golfers and other personalities, even from outside the realm of pro sports, have unveiled some secrets about Lefty’s addiction. Now, in his book, ‘Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf’s Most Colorful Superstar,’ Alan Shipnuck has talked about some secrets related to the pro golfer’s dark past.

Quoting American golfers Steve Flesch and Tom Lehman, Shipnuck shared some anecdotes revealing Mickelson’s intense focus on football scores during rounds. Steve Flesch admitted that once he played with Lefty at the Hyundai Team Matches, and during the game, Mickelson kept checking a beeper. “He could not have cared any less about what we were doing on the golf course. He was definitely more concerned about who was winning the football games and who was covering the spread,” the player remarked.

Shipnuck also added a quote from Tom Lehman to substantiate his argument. Referencing the golfer, Shipnuck revealed that Lehman had a similar experience with the LIV pro back in 2000 when they were playing at the Presidents Cup. Lehman claimed that, during the game, Mickelson was distracted and “barely finished a hole through the first eight holes.” 

Lehman added that the golfing veteran kept assuring him not to worry and that he would show up eventually. “…On the ninth hole, he buries it in the front bunker and is out of the hole again. He walks way back into the trees and is sitting on a stump with his back to everybody and his head down. I think he’s giving himself a pep talk, so I go over there to try to make him feel better, and he’s got his phone out, and he’s checking the football scores,” the golfer explained.

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Mickelson has had a history of gambling and betting, and he has admitted to getting over it in recent times. But stories from the days he was heavily involved in it keep emerging and causing controversies.

Mickelson’s past gambling struggles: From confessions to allegations and scrutiny

Last September, Phil Mickelson wrote this on X: “Most of you will enjoy this football season with moderation while having lots of fun and entertainment. The fantasy leagues will provide banter amongst friends, and money won or lost betting won’t affect you. I won’t be betting this year.” Admitting that removing himself from the betting and gambling scene had nothing to do with his financial standing, Lefty revealed it was because the addition was taxing, and it took a toll on his relationships in his circle.

During the Ryder Cup, Billy Walters, a gambler, made some allegations against Mickelson, claiming he spent over $1 billion and intended to bet $400,000 on the 2012 edition. In August, Mickelson took to X to make his side of the story public. “I never bet on the Ryder Cup. While it is well known that I always enjoy a friendly wager on the course, I would never undermine the integrity of the game,” he wrote.

Reinforcing the fact that he’s left his habits in the past, Mickelson concluded, “I have also been very open about my gambling addiction. I have previously conveyed my remorse, took responsibility, gotten help, have been fully committed to therapy that has positively impacted me, and I feel good about where I am now.”

Despite Phil Mickelson’s confessions, scrutiny’s eye keeps returning to his grounds times and again. What are your thoughts on what Alan Shipnuck revealed about Lefty? Let us know in the comments below!

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