Rory McIlroy Ruthlessly Zings Phil Mickelson Over Ryder Cup Betting Allegations

McIlroy did not hold back when addressing the explosive claims surrounding Mickelson’s gambling.

Rory McIlroy did not hold back when providing a brief but telling comment on the explosive allegations made about Phil Mickelson and his gambling.

In an excerpt from Billy Walters’s forthcoming book Gambler, Secrets from a Life at Risk, the Las Vegas businessman claimed that Mickelson bet more than $1 billion on sports and even attempted to wager on the 2012 Ryder Cup. 

McIlroy shot a 3-under 67 in Memphis on Thursday in the opening round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship, but evidently, he read about Walters’s claims before his tee time. 

When asked about the Mickelson allegations in a post-round interview, McIlroy couldn’t help but take a jab at the LIV golfer, specifically referencing the Ryder Cup claims. 

“At least he can bet on the Ryder Cup this year because he won’t be a part of it,” McIlroy said. 

🚨🎥 #VIDEO:

Rory Mcilroy Responds to Phil and the Ryder Cup Rumors.#DIALED🎯 pic.twitter.com/5qWn3I6uKz

— DIALED GOLF (@DialedGolf_) August 10, 2023

All McIlroy could do was chuckle after delivering the sizzling dig. 

In the excerpt, Walters claims that during the Medinah Ryder Cup—which Mickelson was participating in at the time—the three-time Masters champion asked Walters to place a $400,000 bet on the U.S. team to defeat Europe. 

Walters, who was Mickelson’s betting partner for many years, apparently talked Mickelson out of the wager, but did not know if he ever placed the bet elsewhere.

On Thursday afternoon, Mickelson denied betting on the Ryder Cup in a statement to Sports Illustrated: “While it is well know that I always enjoy a friendly wager on the course, I would never undermine the integrity of the game.”