‘Try To Make Him Feel Better’: Renowned for His Notorious Gambling Habit, Phil Mickelson Once Baffled a PGA Tour Pro With His Behavior

American professional golfer, Phil Mickelson, lost millions through gambling. Although there were rumors about it throughout his career, not many knew that he enjoyed placing bets. However, the golf world got to know he even did it during official tournaments after Alan Shipnuck released his book, ‘PHIL: The Rip-Roaring (Unauthorized) Biography of Golf’s Most Colorful Superstar,’ on Lefty. 

The book contains many stories from people who have seen him or been involved in placing bets with him. One such story from the American golfer, Tom Lehman, revealed how Mickelson lost his concentration from the prestigious Presidents Cup due to a football game. 

Lefty was more concerned about football scores than his game during the 2000 Presidents Cup 

Team USA ambushed Team International with an 11-point lead by scoring 21.5 against their 10.5 in the 2000 Presidents Cup. Nonetheless, Mickelson had nothing to do with it. Or at least, his teammate Tom Lehman’s story says so. 

Lehman was paired with Lefty in the Foursomes against Mike Weir and Steve Elkington. And the 6-time major champion had trouble playing his good game at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. 

“Phil is hitting it everywhere,” Lehman told Shipnuck to write in his book. “He’s barely finished a hole through the first eight holes,” he added. “He keeps saying, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll show up eventually.’”

According to Lehman, Mickelson couldn’t improve his game at all. Eventually, he walked “back into the trees and is sitting on a stump with his back to everybody and his head down” after hitting a terrible shot on the ninth hole. 

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“I think he’s giving himself a pep talk, so I go over there to try to make him feel better,” Lehman told Shipnuck. “And he’s got his phone out and he’s checking the football scores.” 

How many times has Phil Mickelson been part of the Presidents Cup?

Phil Mickelson may have joined the new LIV Golf Invitational Series leaving his PGA Tour legacies. He may have disclosed his gambling issues with the world during a recent interview. However, nobody can deny that Phil Mickelson played better golf than everybody except for Tiger Woods, during his prime era. 

Winning 45 events, including 6 majors, on the PGA Tour made him one of the best candidates to play in the Presidents Cup. Since his debut as a professional golfer, Mickelson has played in 12 Presidents Cups until 2017. And Team USA won 10 out of 12 times he played with them.

According to Lehman, Mickelson was not paying attention to his game at all. All he was interested in football scores and even checked them in between the team event. Do you think he was involved in a bet about the football game and he wanted to check the scores to know whether or not he is winning? 

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