Phil Mickelson has been mostly silent since legendary sports bettor Billy Walters told the world about Mickelson's gambling addiction in a book published last month. But that all changed on Monday.
The six-time majors champion released a statement on social media, declaring he would not be wagering on football this fall.
"Most of you will enjoy this football season with moderation while having lots of fun and entertainment," he said in the statement. "The fantasy leagues will provide banter amongst friends and money won or lost betting won't affect you.
"I won't be betting this year because I crossed the line of moderation and into addiction which isn't any fun at all. The money wasn't ever the issue since our financial security has never been threatened, but I was so distracted I wasn't able to be present with the ones I love and caused a lot of harm."
One of the world's most famous golfers, Mickelson admitted previously he had an addiction to sports wagering. In his book, "Gambler: Secrets from a Life of Risk," Walters provided the details with startling numbers.
Walters alleged Mickelson wagered, on average, nine times a day and bet more than $1 billion on multiple sports over a 30-year period, with losses nearing $100 million.
Mickelson has dealt with a significant amount of off-the-course distractions since winning the PGA Championship in 2021. He continues to do work to try and repair his image.
