Phil: PGA Tour Looking Into Possible Code Of Conduct Violation
/Doug Ferguson considers the most intriguing element of the Phil Mickelson-SEC news from this week: the gambling debt investigators say the Hall of Famer owed Billy Walters, some of which was paid off by the stock sale gains enjoyed from Walters' tip.
As my podcast colleague Joe House explained to me, the SEC made this element of the case public to reinforce the case against Walters, establishing motive for expediting a payment.
The dealings have even, apparently, torn the PGA Tour away from their main focus on opting out of the current TV contract!
The complaint has the attention of the PGA Tour, which has a section in its player handbook under "Conduct of Players" related to gambling. One part says that a player shall not "associate with or have dealings with persons whose activities, including gambling, might reflect adversely upon the integrity of the game of golf."
"That's something we're in the process of looking at and determining," tour spokesman Ty Votaw said.
I've actually obtained footage of the PGA Tour meeting on the Phil situation.
I'm picking a Commissioner Lepetomane situation, with Ty as Headly Lamar and Ed Moorhouse not chiming in fast enough with a "harumph."
**The SI Roundtable tackled Phil this week and there was plenty of interesting reaction. Including this:
Michael Bamberger, senior writer, Sports Illustrated: It raises many more questions than it answers. In the absence of any defense from Mickelson, you're likely to believe the government's statement. You would think his wealth is vast and that he would not struggle to pay off a $1 million gambling debt. Also, I don't see it as victimless. If one person makes, another person loses. Mickelson is so inquisitive, it's hard to imagine him just accepting a suggestion to buy a stock, hold it briefly, then sell it. But Mickelson's greatness as a player is rooted in the same sort of thing. He lives large, and that's one of the things people like about him, and that won't change. He'll make even more effort now with fans and reporters, I would think. There's so much good will there, in ways there was not when Tiger plowed over that hydrant.
Alan Shipnuck, senior writer, Sports Illustrated (@AlanShipnuck): Mike is right, and in this case the guy who lost is actually getting screwed because he didn't have the insider information. And it erodes trust in the entire financial system when guys like Phil are getting over in fishy deals. But Mickelson will survive this because every golf fan already knows he loves action, and this is just the latest example.
