Billy Walters

The truth is, Phil liked to gamble as much as anyone I've met.

I've known some of the biggest gamblers in the world.

To give you an idea of how much Phil liked to gamble, he called me in September of 2012 from Madonna Country Club outside Chicago with an astounding request.

He asked me to place a $400,000 wager for him on his own United States team to beat the Europeans in the 39th Ryder Cup.

He asked me to place a $400,000 bet for him on the U.S.

team to win.

Once again, I could not believe what I was hearing.

Have you lost your f***ing mind?

I told him.

Don't you remember what happened to Pete Rose?

The former Cincinnati Reds manager was banned from baseball for betting on his own team.

You're seen as a modern-day Arnold Palmer.

You'd risk all of that for this?

I want no part of it.

All right, all right, he replied before hanging up.

Based on our relationship and what I've heard from others, Phil wagered a total of more than a billion dollars during the past three decades.

The only person I know who surpassed that kind of volume is me.

During a 20-year period beginning in the mid-90s, Phil's losses approached $100 million.

That amount is two and a half times higher than the $40 million reported by Alan Shipnuck in his best-selling unauthorized biography of Phil.

He's a big-time gambler, and big-time gamblers make big bets.