Phil Mickelson’s unquenchable thirst to live on edge bites him again

Phil Mickelson has loved a life well-lived, however one which has at occasions been spent so near the solar that he has gotten himself burned. 

The 53-year-old golf celebrity has by no means been ready to withstand the motion, typically pushing the envelope. And in some instances that lust for the push of adrenaline has gotten him into hassle — on and off the golf course. 

On Thursday — the eve of the primary spherical of the LIV Golf occasion at Trump Bedminster in New Jersey — Mickelson was put able to should react to serious allegations made by a person he never should have associated with within the first place. 

Infamous lifelong sports activities gambler Billy Walters, in a tell-all ebook titled, “Gambler: Secrets and techniques from a Life at Threat,’’ detailed his relationship with Mickelson as each a “golf buddy’’ and a “betting companion.’’ And within the ebook, Walters prices that Mickelson needed to position a big wager on the 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup group in opposition to Europe and that, in complete, he gambled some $1 billion and lost about $100 million. 

Walters, too, insinuates within the ebook that Mickelson played a part in his five-year jail sentence for insider trading, claiming that had Mickelson testified in his protection he might have prevented jail time. Walters even delivered back-handed blame to Mickelson when he wrote about his daughter committing suicide whereas he was in jail, saying he believes he might have prevented it had he not been locked up. 

Probably the most damning accusation to return out of the ebook excerpt, which was printed on the Hearth Pit Collective web site on Thursday, was Walters alleging that Mickelson got here to him desirous to wager $400,000 on the U.S. to win the Ryder Cup. 

Mickelson on Thursday, after taking part in his pro-am spherical, emailed a press release to The Put up vehemently denying Walters’ allegation. 

“I by no means wager on the Ryder Cup,’’ Mickelson stated. “Whereas it’s well-known that I at all times get pleasure from a pleasant wager on the course, I’d by no means undermine the integrity of the sport. I’ve additionally been very open about my playing habit. I’ve beforehand conveyed my regret, took accountability, have gotten assist, have been totally dedicated to remedy that has positively impacted me and I be ok with the place I’m now.’’ 

The very first thing that must be unpacked right here is who Walters is. He’s a lifelong gambler who was jailed for insider buying and selling and has an ax to grind with Mickelson, who on the recommendation of his attorneys as a reduction defendant, selected to not testify in Walters’ protection. 

Walters was convicted for insider buying and selling of Dean Meals inventory, a few of which Mickelson had bought. Mickelson was by no means charged and needed to repay the roughly $1 million he made off the inventory deal. Walters was convicted and claimed he might have prevented jail if Mickelson had informed a “easy reality.” 

Walters stated he by no means informed Mickelson he had inside info on the Dean Meals inventory and wrote: “All Phil needed to do was publicly say it. He refused. The result value me my freedom, tens of thousands and thousands of {dollars} and a heartbreak I nonetheless battle with day by day. Whereas I used to be in jail, my daughter dedicated suicide. I nonetheless consider I might have saved her if I’d been on the surface.’’ 

These phrases from Walters inform you all you might want to learn about his motivation: retribution. So, to correctly digest this story, we should contemplate the supply of the allegations. 

To additionally correctly digest this story, although, we should contemplate Mickelson’s propensity for recklessness. 

Mickelson’s affiliation with Walters is the off-the-course equal to him making an attempt, on the course, to chop that dangerous 3-iron across the timber along with his second shot on the 72nd gap of the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot after he had simply bounced his tee shot off a hospitality tent. 

Simply as he by no means ought to have befriended Walters and gone right into a betting partnership with him, Mickelson by no means ought to have tried that low-percentage second shot on the 18th at Winged Foot when he wanted a par to win. He ought to have performed it protected, punching out to maybe at the least get right into a playoff with a bogey, as an alternative of taking that danger and shedding the one main he has by no means gained with a double bogey. 

So, right here we’re right now: Mickelson is in a pickle because of his thirst for motion, making an attempt to extricate himself from a scenario he ought to by no means have gotten himself into and making an attempt to clear his title from the accusations of a convicted felon. 

Fore.