Watkins, a legend who won the PGA Championship in 1977 and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame with 21 wins on the PGA Tour, said in an interview with the U.S. golf channel on the 15th, “It’s very disappointing to see what he’s been loved for a long time over the past decade.” We were enthusiastic about his game, but looking at what he’s been doing lately, it’s not strange at all now.”
Mickelson, who won 45 PGA Tour titles (6 major wins), was in trouble last week after new revelations related to his gambling addiction. Billie Walters, a famous gambler and friend of Mickelson’s, revealed in his book, “Gambling: Secrets from a Life in Crisis,” which is due to be published next week, that Mickelson tried to bet $400,000 on the U.S. victory in the 2012 Ryder Cup. Walters strongly dissuaded him by mentioning Pete Rose, who had gambled on his team’s game in the Major League at the time, and then said it was unknown whether Mickelson had bet on a different route. The United States was defeated by Europe that year.
Regarding the Ryder Cup, Watkins said, “Mickelson probably captained it twice. “I won’t be involved in the Ryder Cup anymore, but he really blew himself up, and I’m repeating that every moment.” Mickelson, a symbol of a sincere player who takes care of his family thoroughly, pointed out a series of misdeeds such as falling into gambling addiction, intentionally breaking rules during the tournament, and causing noise in the process of transferring LIV golf.
Watkins said, “It’s disappointing and sad to have people around us who think they’re bigger than golf. Mickelson clearly thinks he’s bigger than golf,” he nailed.
Mickelson said on social media, “I’ve never bet on the Rider Cup. “It is well known that I enjoy betting golf in the sense of friendship, but I have not undermined the integrity of golf,” he said. “My gambling addiction is a known story, I deeply regretted and took responsibility, and I had a positive effect with help and treatment,” he claimed, but it became difficult to resolve his distrust of the already distorted hero.