Rory McIlroy mocks Phil Mickelson over golf gambling book excerpt
Rory McIlroy wished to ensure he obtained one final shot in after carding a 3-under 67 in the first round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship Thursday in Memphis. Introduced with a query about the excerpt from a new book written by Phil Mickelson’s former playing associate, McIlroy nearly gleefully fired again at his LIV Golf antagonist.
“A minimum of he can guess on the Ryder Cup this yr,” McIlroy cracked, “as a result of he gained’t be part of it.”
Within the excerpt, Billy Walters claims Mickelson made tens of 1000’s of six-figure bets and alleged Mickelson referred to as him from the 2012 Ryder Cup and requested him to position a $400,000 wager for him on the U.S. group to win. Mickelson was one in every of 12 members of the group.
Mickelson subsequently launched a press release on the matter: “I by no means guess on the Ryder Cup,” he wrote. “Whereas it’s well-known that I at all times get pleasure from a pleasant wager on the course, I might 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 absolutely dedicated to remedy that has positively impacted me and I be ok with the place I’m now.”
Although Mickelson is now not a part of the PGA Tour, the most recent revelations about his life off the course turned the speak of the golf world Thursday and due to this fact unavoidable as the primary FedEx Cup playoff occasion started at TPC Southwind.
“The reality, I don’t know what the reality precisely is, however from what everybody has reported, that’s a number of bets per day. I don’t understand how I’d have the ability to play,” Collin Morikawa mentioned, laughing.
Jordan Spieth, who completed Thursday within the lead after carding a 7-under 63, indicated the excerpt had been mentioned by some golfers within the clubhouse earlier than first-round motion commenced later than anticipated attributable to inclement climate.
“I imply, I might say individuals have been perhaps a bit stunned on the quantity of … ” Spieth mentioned earlier than chopping himself off. “I have never actually seen a complete lot on it. I simply noticed what some individuals despatched me and stuff, and it was so fast this morning that even when I wished to remark, I do not assume it is a good suggestion.”
McIlroy thought in any other case.
“Needed to get that one in there,” he mentioned as he left the rostrum, as soon as his jab at Mickelson had landed. “Glad somebody requested me.”