Golf news
Four most notorious gamblers in golf history
The game of golf involves high stakes, steep odds and big money. It’s no secret that bookies make a small fortune during tournaments just from collecting bets and keeping track of things. That’s not even taking into consideration the money made from online casino gambling. It’s also no secret that golfers themselves have been known to take a dip in the lucky pool from time to time as well. Still, most keep their hobby under control and, more importantly, under wraps. For some, however, gambling qualifies as their other occupation, and, as with all jobs, some of them are more successful at it than others.
There are quite a few of these golfers littered throughout history, however there are four select players who stand-out head and shoulders above the rest in terms of their gambling (and, in some cases, hustling) tendencies. Three of them are contemporaries of today, and the other one is more a living legend than a real person. These four golfers are: Titanic Thompson, John Daly, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
- Titanic Thompson
A popular expert golfer in the early 1900’s, ‘Titanic’ (real name: Alvin) Thompson (real surname: Thomas) never turned pro because he couldn’t afford “the cut in pay”. In a biography on Titanic, it’s stated that Ben Hogan once called him “the best shotmaker” he had ever seen, because he was unbeatable whether playing left-handed or right-handed. But, given that at the time top-tiered professional golfers made an average of $30,000 a year, Titanic made more in a week hustling rich golf clubs than a pro golfer did in an entire year.
Aside from being a golfer and a hustler, Titanic was also a very skilled gambler. In fact, he got the nickname ‘Titanic’ because he was so successful at ‘sinking’ people in bets. He was known for being one of the first road gamblers, hustling on the go. Just one example of his gambling wins is that he came out of World War I with around $50,000 extra in his pocket from teaching his trainees gambling, and then proceeding to win substantial sums from them.
- John Daly
Over a decade ago, in 2006, pro golfer John Daly released his autobiography My Life In and Out of the Rough in which he candidly spoke about his long-standing gambling addiction. When the Big Un’s fall, they go down hard.
More recently than this, Daly has confessed to racking up a gambling debt of $50 – $60 million over the span of his gambling years. He claims to have lost around $98 million and won $45 million, resulting in the significant imbalance in losses. In a particular incident that he recalls, he lost a cool $1.5 million just playing slot machines in Las Vegas in 2005.
- Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods has been in papers for a number of reasons aside from his golfing achievements. His many affairs first came to light in 2009, but his other vices soon started coming out as well. Among said vices is his inclination for gambling: specifically, gambling on blackjack games. We’re not talking sitting at home playing those online blackjack games, as realistic as they are, we’re talking sitting at a high-stakes table with other high-profile celebrities in an luxurious casino.
It’s said that he has a $1 million limit at the MGM Grand Casino, and that he’s known for betting $25,000 a hand during a game of blackjack. There’s even a rumour going round that he once had a limit of $5 million, meaning he was playing $200,000 a hand.
- Phil Mickelson
Mickelson’s name has recently been resurfacing in connection to the federal insider-trading case involving pro gambler, Billy Walters. According to the New York Post, official court documents reveal that Mickelson paid Walters $1.2 million to pay off gambling debts.
Given that the debt was settled in 2012, it seems that Mickelson’s gambling had been in effect for a while. However, it’s important to note that Mickelson himself is not being charged with any accusations whatsoever in the case.
