Mickelson’s bet regrets

PHIL MICKELSON has admitted his gambling became ‘reckless and embarrassing’ as he prepares to return to the spotlight at the LIV Golf Invitational opener in St Albans. The 51-year-old has received an estimated £160million signing bonus to be a star attraction for the controversial Saudibacked breakaway venture, which on Thursday will serve as his re-entry point to the game after embarking on a selfimposed exile in February because of the backlash to his comments about the new tour. While he was away, a new book claimed the six-time major winner sustained gambling losses of more than £32.4m between 2010 and 2014.

Mickelson said: ‘My gambling got to a point of being reckless and embarrassing. I had to address it. I’ve been addressing it for years. And for hundreds of hours of therapy. I feel good where I’m at. My family and I have been financially secure for some time.

‘Gambling has been part of my life ever since I can remember. But about a decade ago is when I would say it became reckless. ‘It’s embarrassing. I don’t like that people know. The fact is I’ve been dealing with it for some time. Amy (his wife) has been very supportive of it and with me and the process. We’re at a place after many years where I feel comfortable with where that is.

‘It isn’t a threat to me or my financial security. It was just a number of poor decisions.’