Phil Mickelson avoids questions on Billy Walters excerpt from gambling book

BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Just as Phil Mickelson was beginning his pro-am round for LIV Golf’s event this week at Trump National Bedminster, a juicy excerpt from a new book written by gambler Billy Walters was released by the Golf Digest and the Firepit Collective.

Walters, a former gambling partner of Mickelson’s, claimed the 53-year-old Lefty made tens of thousands of six-figure bets and also alleged Mickelson called him from the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club near Chicago and asked him to place a $400,000 wager for him on the U.S. team, of which he was one of 12 members, to win.

After a nine-hole pro-am, Mickelson was asked for comment on the allegations in the excerpt and declined, saying “I’m gonna pass today. We’ll talk later.”

Walters was once regarded as one of the most successful sports bettors in the country. He was sentenced to five years in prison for conspiring to commit insider trading from at least 2008 through 2014, was convicted on all 10 counts against him, fined $10 million and sentenced to five years in prison in 2017. His book, which also goes into greater detail on the insider trading charges related to Dean Foods that sent him to jail, will be released on Aug. 22. Mickelson was a relief defendant in the civil suit, and agreed to pay back $1.03 million, including profit and interest.