Phil Mickelson Candidly Admits to ‘Reckless’ and ‘Embarrassing’ Gambling That Cost Him $40 Million – Sportscasting

Phil Mickelson hasnt teed it up in a professional event since January, but hes been the talk of the golf world ever since then. It all started with his jarring comments about Saudi Arabia and the LIV Golf league back in February, and it only intensified last month when golf writer Alan Shipnuck revealed Mickelson lost $40 million gambling over a four-year stretch.

As Lefty gets ready to help kick off the LIV Golf Invitational in London this weekend, he opened up about his gambling problems and admitted it became reckless and embarrassing.

Weve known for years that Mickelson loves to gamble. Many professional golfers do. But not many love it enough to lose $40 million over the span of four years.

According to Shipnuck, the author of the upcoming biography Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golfs Most Colorful Superstar, thats exactly what Lefty did about a decade ago.

Mickelsons love of gambling is fundamental to understanding his style of play as a golfer. It might also explain the Saudi seduction, Shipnuck wrote for Fire Pit Collective last month. Mickelson had gambling losses totaling more than $40 million in the four-year period (201014) that was scrutinized. In those prime earning years, his income was estimated to be just north of $40 million a year.

Now that Mickelsons gambling losses have become public knowledge, hes been forced to face the music and own up to his mistakes.

Instead of denying the gambling allegations, Mickelson admitted to his problem and candidly revealed hes been working hard to fix it.

My gambling got to a point of being reckless and embarrassing, Mickelson said in a recent interview with Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated. I had to address it. And Ive been addressing it for a number of years. And for hundreds of hours of therapy. I feel good where Im at there. My family and I are and have been financially secure for some time.

Gambling has been part of my life ever since I can remember. But about a decade ago is when I would say it became reckless. Its embarrassing. I dont like that people know. The fact is Ive been dealing with it for some time. Amy (his wife) has been very supportive of it and with me and the process. Were at place after many years where I feel comfortable with where that is. It isnt a threat to me or my financial security. It was just a number of poor decisions.

Luckily for Mickelson, he was able to earn back that $40 million many times over. He also received a cool $200 million for signing with the LIV Golf Invitational Series, so his bank account is going to be just fine going forward.

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Phil Mickelson Candidly Admits to 'Reckless' and 'Embarrassing' Gambling That Cost Him $40 Million - Sportscasting