Rory McIlroy reignites Phil Mickelson feud with savage response to accusations of

Rory McIlroy delivered a brutal response to accusations that Phil Mickelson tried to bet $400,000 on the 2012 Ryder Cup, joking that the lefty will be free to gamble on this year’s match because he won’t be playing.

Mickelson has denied placing any wagers on the Ryder Cup, in the aftermath of a book published by noted sports gambler Billy Walters.

Walters alleged that he and Mickelson discussed betting on the match at Medinah – something that Mickelson denied in a statement to Sports Illustrated.

‘I never bet on the Ryder Cup,’ Mickelson said. ‘I would never undermine the integrity of the game. I have also been very open about my gambling addiction.

McIlroy was asked about the allegations during the FEDEX St Jude Championship. He said with a mischevious smile: ‘At least he can bet on the Ryder Cup this year because he won’t be a part of it.’

Rory McIlroy gave a brutal response to claims that Phil Mickelson tried to bet on the Ryder Cup

 Mickelson has denied placing a bet on the 2012 Ryder Cup in a statement on Thursday

Europe and the USA meet near Rome next month. The 53-year-old Mickelson has played in a record 12 Ryder Cups for the US but he has now accepted that chapter of his career is over following his move to LIV Golf.

Mickelson’s prominent role with the breakaway tour sparked a war of words with McIlroy, one of the staunchest defenders of the PGA Tour in recent years.

The left-hander’s denial on Thursday came after Walters opened up on his relationship with the golf legend in his autobiography ‘Gambler: Secrets from a Life at Risk’, via Golf Digest.

Citing betting records and two ‘very reliable’ sources, the Las Vegas businessman claims that Mickelson made 858 bets of $220,000 and 1,115 bets of $110,000 from 2010 up until 2014, while estimating that his total losses in the last 30 years exceed the $1bn mark.

‘The only other person I know who surpassed that kind of volume is me,’ he said.

Walters also alleges that Mickelson, who has won six major championships throughout a glittering career in golf, even tried to place a $400,000 wager on his own US team to win the Ryder Cup back in 2012.

‘Phil called me from Medinah Country Club just outside Chicago, site of the 39th Ryder Cup matches between the United States and Europe,’ he recalled. 

Mickelson’s former gambling partner Billy Walters (pictured) has opened up on their relationship in his autobiography – alleging the golfer bet $400,000 on the Ryder Cup

The six-time major champion, pictured with wife Amy, is said to have made 858 bets of $220,000 and 1,115 bets of $110,000 from 2010 up until 2014

‘He was feeling supremely confident that the American squad led by Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, and Phil himself was about to reclaim the Cup from the Euros. He was so confident that he asked me to place a $400,000 wager for him on the U.S. team to win.

‘I could not believe what I was hearing.’

Walters, who was sentenced to five years in prison for insider trading in 2017, says he then furiously asked Mickelson: ‘Have you lost your f***ing mind?’ before the California golfer backtracked on his request. He remains unsure if he placed the bet anywhere else.

Mickelson dismissed the accusation, insisting: ‘While it is well known that I always enjoy a friendly wager on the course, I would never undermine the integrity of the game. I have also been very open about my gambling addiction.

‘I have previously conveyed my remorse, took responsibility, have gotten help, have been fully committed to therapy that has positively impacted me, and I feel good about where I am now.’