"I crossed the line" Phil Mickelson posts lengthy tweet about gambling addiction
LIV Golf's Phil Mickelson has paid tribute to wife Amy for helping him through his gambling addiction.
Phil Mickelson has taken to Twitter with a lengthy post about his past gambling addiction following the start of the new NFL season, and he has also paid tribute to his wife Amy for helping him through his darkest of days.
Extracts from Billy Walters' book about his relationship with Mickelson alleged the six-time major champion gambled up to $1 billion over three decades with $100m losses.
To make matters worse Walters - his former gambling partner - claimed Mickelson wanted to wager $400,000 on the 2012 Ryder Cup.
Rory McIlroy then twisted the knife.
Mickelson, 53, has made just shy of $100m solely from playing on the PGA Tour and now on the LIV Golf League.
Lefty left the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf in a deal reportedly worth $200m.
Ryder Cup legend Lanny Wadkins last week admitted Mickelson would be "gambling in a ditch" if he wasn't a professional golfer.
Tweeting ahead of the new American Football season, which is now underway in the United States, Mickelson took to Twitter to speak at large about his past betting antics and why he will not be betting on any games in the future.
Here are some key lines from his tweet:
- "I won't be betting this year because I crossed the line of moderation and into addiction which isn't any fun at all."
- "I was so distracted I wasn't able to be present with the ones I love and caused a lot of harm."
- "Hopefully you won't have to deal with these difficult moments publicly so others can profit off you like I have."
- "Amy has loved me and supported me through my darkest and most difficult times. I couldn't have gotten through this without her."
- "After many years of receiving professional help, not gambling, and being in recovery from my addictions, I’m now able to sit still, be present in the moment and live each day with an inner calm and peace."
- "I still have a lot of cleaning up to do with those I love the most but I’m doing it slowly and as best I can."
- "In my experience, the moments with the ones you love will be far more remembered than any bet you win or fantasy league triumph."
READ MICKELSON'S FULL TWEET HERE:
Most of you will enjoy this football season with moderation while having lots of fun and entertainment. The fantasy leagues will provide banter amongst friends and money won or lost betting won’t affect you. I wont be betting this year because I crossed the line of moderation and…
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) September 18, 2023
Mickelson tweeted:
Mickelson is back competing on LIV Golf in Chicago this week.
Andy first joined the brand on a month's work experience back in April 2011, and he now assumes the Editor role. When Andy joined GolfMagic it was a small site with potential.
