Golf fans, mark your calendars Aug. 15.
A book written by Billy Walters, a famed sports gambler who was sentenced to six years in prison for insider trading in 2017. will include details about his relationship with Phil Mickelson, which may not portray the Lefty in the best light. Simon & Schuster will publish the co-written book by Armen Keteyian (author of Tiger, Gambler: Secrets From a Life at Risk) later in the summer.
According to a press release, “In addition to a story about an American dream, it reveals in fine detail Walters’s sports betting system. This will serve as a masterclass for tens to millions of recreational gamblers across America and around the globe.” “Walters also broke his silence about his complicated and long-lasting relationship with Phil Mickelson, a Hall of Fame professional golfer.
Alan Shipnuck authored a biography about Mickelson that was released last year on the Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz. He stated that Walters chose not to speak to him in order for him to write his own book.
Shipnuck stated that Phil is nervous about the book and that he should be.
Mickelson’s connections to Walters were revealed in 2017. Reports claimed that he owed Walters $2,000,000 in gambling debts. This was discovered in 2017, when Walters was convicted of insider trading. Walters was convicted of all 10 charges against him and was sentenced to five year imprisonment. Mickelson was also ordered to repay trading profits totalling $931,738 plus $105,292 interest, but skated unaffected by technicality.
Walters was freed from prison on May 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was currently serving the remainder of his five year sentence at home. In 2021, President Donald Trump commutated Walters’ sentence as one of his last acts in office. The commutation was made possible by a White House statement claiming Mickelson, along with swing instructor Butch Harmon, and TV commentators David Feherty (and Peter Jacobsen).
Mickelson’s lawyer refuted the claim and called the press release “erroneous”, and stated that “Phil had absolutely nothing to do”
Mickelson, a new face of the LIV golf league, and his Hy Flyers will be back in action with the Upstart Circuit’s first event in 2023 Mexico.
