Phil Mickelson claims he hasn’t gambled ‘in years and is almost a BILLIONAIRE’

After struggling with a gambling problem for years, Phil Mickelson claims he’s got control of the issue – and is reaping the rewards of his high-priced LIV Golf contract.

Mickelson was paid a reported $200million to join the Saudi-backed breakaway golf league last year, but the three-time Masters winner hasn’t always been responsible financially.

According to Alan Shipnuck, who wrote a biography on the golfer, Mickelson lost more than $40million gambling between 2010-14.

‘In those prime earning years, his income was estimated to be just north of $40 million a year,’ Shipnuck wrote in an excerpt of the biography published on The Fire Pit Collective.

Now, however, Mickelson says things have changed.

Responding to a Twitter user that asked him how his gambling addiction was going, Mickelson said, ‘Haven’t gambled in years. Almost a billionaire now. Thanks for asking.’

Another person shot back on the site, ‘Gotta call bs here. This means Phil doesn’t play for money on practice rounds and casual rounds. That is gambling.’

‘There is an * then,’ Mickelson acknowledged. ‘We cap it at 1k. I would argue that’s creating competition. But certainly you could argue otherwise.’

The claim from the golfer came after he responded to Golfweek columnist Eamon Lynch, after the writer tweeted a column titled ‘Phil Mickelson’s Twitter bluster can’t distract from his reality as a shameless pawn for murderers.’

Mickelson responded to that post saying Lynch needed ‘professional help’ for his ‘obsession’ with the golfer, which segued into the aforementioned Twitter user asking about Mickelson receiving ‘professional help’ in regards to his gambling.

The 52-year-old spoke to Sports Illustrated about his gambling problem last year. 

‘My gambling got to a point of being reckless and embarrassing,’ he said. ‘I had to address it. And I’ve been addressing it for a number of years. And for hundreds of hours of therapy. I feel good where I’m at there. My family and I are and 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,’ he continued.

‘The fact is I’ve been dealing with it for some time. Amy has been very supportive of it and with me and the process. We’re at 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.’

Contrary to Mickelson’s claims of nearly being a billionaire, Mickelson’s net worth is thought to be around $400million according to Golf Monthly.