Mickelson lost $40M gambling, book says

Phil Mickelson reported gambling losses of more than US$40 million from 2010-14, the author of an unauthorized biography on the golfer says.

Author Alan Shipnuck's upcoming Mickelson book was the source of controversial remarks Mickelson made about Saudi financiers backing a rival golf circuit.

“Mickelson's love of gambling is fundamental to understanding his style of play as a golfer. It might also explain the Saudi seduction,” Shipnuck wrote. “Based on his comments to me, he clearly enjoyed the idea of sticking it to the PGA Tour, but the real motivation was plainly the funny money being offered by the Saudis.”