Golfing legend Phil Mickelson has posted a tweet disclosing his intention to stop gambling, admitting that he has crossed the line past moderation into addiction. The 53-year-old American also revealed that he has received professional help for many years and is in recovery.
Public Admission
Micelson’s public admission of a gambling addiction comes barely a month after renowned gambler Billy Walters wrote in his book that Mickelson wagered more than $1 billion over the last three decades and wanted to place a $400,000 bet on the 2012 Ryder Cup while playing for Team USA. Mickelson denied ever betting on the Ryder Cup.
In his lengthy post, Mickelson said he won’t bet on football this season and opened up on his struggles and how he’s on the road to being “the person I want to be”.
He admitted that he had crossed the line of moderation and entered into addiction, which he said “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,”
He also offered advice to anyone who might be struggling with similar issues:
“If you ever cross the line of moderation and enter into addiction, hopefully you won’t confuse your enablers as friends like I did.”
Mickelson’s statement has been widely covered in the media, with many outlets reporting on his admission of addiction and his efforts to repair the damage it caused.
He also thanked his wife for her support during his recovery process, saying:
