KEY POINTS

  • Webb Simpson recalls his own gambling experience with legendary golfer Phil Mickelson
  • Simpson says he won $1000 against Mickelson in 2011
  • "Lefty" also reportedly won his very first match against Tiger Woods, which involved money

A PGA Tour star didn’t expect to be included in one of Phil Mickelson’s friendly gambling stories.

Being one of the greatest golfers of all time also meant making quite an amount of earnings.

In Mickelson’s case, his historic $92.5 million earnings on the course during his illustrious PGA Tour career puts him just behind Tiger Woods on the all-time list.

However, the Hall of Famer has developed a certain gambling habit, especially during practice rounds.

Recounting his own experience with Mickelson, 2012 U.S. Open winner Webb Simpson revealed that during the 2011 Presidents Cup, he was told to bet about $1000 against the five-time major champion.

Despite not wanting to take part in the said Mickelson’s mini sports gambling activity, Simpson was prompted to as he was told he “doesn’t have a choice.”

“So my first Presidents Cup in Australia, I’m playing in a practice round with Phil [Mickelson] and [Jim] Furyk, and on the way to the tee — Bubba [Watson] had played the Ryder Cup in Wales in 2010 — and Bubba said, ‘Just to let you know, we’re probably going to be playing for $1,000 today,'" he bared in a recent episode of "GOLF’s Subpar" podcast.

“I’m like, ‘What do you mean? What if I don’t want to?’ And he’s like, ‘Well, you are playing with Phil, you don’t have a choice. I’m just letting you know.’ He’s like, ‘I don’t want to play for that, but that’s what we’re playing for,'” he continued.

Fortunately for Simpson, he won the practice round and the $1000 as well.

“So we did,” the 35-year-old remembered. “Bubba and I won, and I said, ‘Hey Bubba, Jim can pay you. I want Phil to pay me.’ So I can always say I’m a thousand up on Phil. Never gonna bet him again.”

Tiger Woods Phil Mickelson
Tiger Woods of the United States and Phil Mickelson of the United States stand on the 16th green during the second round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on May 11, 2018 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Some may not know, but even 15-time major champion Woods himself also played Mickelson for money in the past.

In fact, according to Doug Ferguson of the AP, it was the first time Woods and Mickelson squared off for cash.

The said match happened when the pair was prepping up for 1998 Nissan Open.

The report added that it was “Lefty” who “won big” at the time.

Ven more interesting, Mickelson reportedly put photocopies of Ti ger’s $100 bills in his locker, associated with a note that says , “Just wanted you to know Benji and his friends are very happy in their new home.”

RELATED STORIES