Phil Mickelson Once Comfortably Won a $1000 Bet, But Returned the Money: Here’s Why

Published 07/12/2022, 2:30 PM EDT

Phil Mickelson is one of the most controversial players of all time. The six-time major winner used to lay on the PGA Tour. But as soon as he decided to shift to the new Saudi-backed LIV Tour, Mickelson was in the headlines.

Lefty is widely known for his openness to change. He doesn’t have many strong principles regarding golf since he never says no to a nice paying game. Not only earning, but Mickelson is also very open in the matter of spending his money. The golfer is a sweet tipper, and also likes to challenge players to play for a handsome amount.

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Let’s dig deeper and know more about how Mickelson once enticed a fellow golfer into a golf bet.

Mickelson pulls a fellow player into a bet

Mickelson is amazing at making easy money. The golfer has skills like no one else when it comes to playing short games for a few bucks. But he also knows how to raise the game once he begins.

In a similar incident, Mickelson once offered to bet $1,000 for a simple stroke match with Nick Watney. It was during the 2010 British Open and the athlete somehow agreed to play against Mickelson for the money. The rules were simple – the highest scorer takes all! As expected, Mickelson won the match, winning the bet, and Watney paid him the $1,000 with a word of appreciation.

Phil Mickelson Once Spoke About the Important Lesson His Father Taught Him on Indiscipline When He Was Young

That is when Mickelson changed the game. He took the money, looked at it carefully for a second, and immediately returned it to Watney. Lefty said, “This is Britain, I need pounds”. Watney was shocked and stared at Mickelson hoping that the golf ace was throwing a joke his way. But little did Watney know that Phil Mickelson does not like joking in matters of money.

The gambling story of Phil Mickelson

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Phil Mickelson used the terms “reckless” and “embarrassing” when he talked about his gambling habits. According to his biography written by Alan Shipnuck, Mickelson suffered around $40 million in gambling between 2010-2014. To overcome this undying habit of gambling, the golf star had to go through hours of therapy.

The golfer often regrets wasting all that money he spent because of his gambling addiction. He said, “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. It’s embarrassing. I don’t like that people know.”

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Mickelson was one of the first players to join the Saudi-funded LIV Tour. Following him were many other famous and skillful players who joined the league and left the former tour leaving PGA’s future in jeopardy. Only time will tell what the future holds for the PGA Tour as well as LIV Golf.

Watch This Story: An Unbelievable Story of How Phil Mickelson Made 1M in Less Than 3 Hours

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Written by:

Having completed his Bachelor's degree in Business Management, Joydeep has a writing experience of 4+ years. His interest in golf developed after he tuned in to watch Tiger Woods play. His other interests include singing, playing the guitar and reading about golf.

Edited by:

Manaal Siddiqui

Phil Mickelson Once Comfortably Won a $1000 Bet, But Returned the Money: Here’s Why

Mickelson pulls a fellow player into a bet

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The gambling story of Phil Mickelson