From Being the Most Beloved Player to the Most Controversial Defector, Phil Mickelson’s Bizarre Descent Into the Current Gambling Spotlight

Athletes in the sporting world, especially those from the game of golf, are usually known by two things, the gameplay that they exhibit on the course and their actions off the field. The actions of a player define his character in the eyes of fans. And Phil Mickelson is such a person who finds himself in the spotlight due to his actions.

A recent revelation by a well-known journalist has shed light on Mickelson’s gambling habits leaving many fans displeased about the same. But, although the 53-year-old is currently being constantly criticized for his gambling addictions along with his defection to LIV Golf, he had been loved by many in the community because of his character. Moreover, his philanthropic works still remain a testament to the affection that fans had for old Phil.

Phil Mickelson’s peculiar spot in the limelight

Mickelson’s popularity in the golf world started to plummet after he decided to join the Saudi-backed Tour. Many players and golf enthusiasts harshly criticized the golfer for defecting to LIV Golf. Moreover, the revelation of his gambling habits not too long ago, bought much division in the community making him controversial among many in the golf world.

The golfer has had a long history of gambling. He regularly engages in the act by playing poker with his friends and fellow golfers. Moreover, he is also well known for his love of betting on sports. As per reports, ‘Lefty’ has bet more than a staggering $1 billion in various sports including a $400,000 stake on Team USA in the 2012 Ryder Cup. But even so, throughout his PGA Tour career, Mickelson had always made sure to make the people and the fans around him happy.

The 6-time major champion had once, in a kind gesture, honored the Spanish legend, Seve Ballesteros by serving him a special cuisine at the Champions Dinner in 2011. The Spaniard was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2008 making him very weak at that time. As a tradition, every Tuesday before the Masters, the previous winners of the major would gather and enjoy the meal that the defending champion has picked out for them, the Champions Dinner. As a token of respect for Ballesteros, whose days were numbered, Mickelson decided to serve traditional Spanish cuisine at the dinner.

His tag of the ‘Most Beloved Player’ does not stem from this alone. The LIV Golf pro and his wife had founded the ‘Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation’ to help underprivileged people who do not have any support. In 2020, the foundation hosted a PGA Tour event which was successful in raising $1 million in charity for the people in need in the Coachella Valley. It was distributed to 14 different charities including Boxing Club, Boys and Girls Club, and Pegasus Riding Academy, among others.

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One can’t deny that he has every right to handle the money coming from his pocket in any way he sees fit. Nevertheless, opinions do differ greatly on the golfer because of his good deeds and the recent gambling news that came to light.

The gambling habits of pro golfer Mickelson

Matt Vincenzi, a journalist, took to Twitter to talk about the gambling habits of ‘Lefty’. Putting more context into the act, he said that the bets he makes are just chump change as opposed to the millions that he makes each year. “He was making roughly 60mil a year. A $110,000 per unit bet is the equivalent of someone who makes $100,000 per year betting $150 per game,” read the tweet.

In another reveal of sorts, Billy Walters in his book, ‘Gambler: Secrets from a Life at Risk,’ has divulged many of the details regarding the golfer’s addiction. The pro has made around 858 bets of $220,000 and 1,115 bets of $110,000 from 2010-14. Moreover, he also suffered massive losses in the last 10-15 years. Even if the golfer is using his own money for his wagers, one can definitely say that the LIV defector’s habit of wagering has definitely tainted his legacy to an extent.

Do you feel that one mistake should overshadow his decades of legacy? Share your thoughts below.

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