Phil Mickelson's representatives have denied allegations that the golfer was expelled from multiple golf clubs for misconduct and that he showed a nude photograph of himself to the wife of a fellow professional golfer. The denials come in response to a report from Skratch reporter Alan Shipnuck.
Mickelson's spokespeople told The New York Post that "Mr. Mickelson has never been expelled from a golf club" and "His membership has never been revoked by a golf club," stating that any decisions to leave clubs were Mickelson's own.
Ashley Perez, the ex-wife of golfer Pat Perez, reportedly told Shipnuck that Mickelson showed her a naked photograph of himself in 2015 while he was sharing living quarters with the couple during a tournament in New Jersey. According to the Skratch article, Mickelson allegedly told Perez that he planned to leave his bedroom door open at night and wanted to see her after her husband fell asleep.
Mickelson's representatives stated that his willingness to apologize for his conduct should not be seen as an admission of all allegations. They also asserted that Shipnuck's report was an "anonymously sourced drive-by shooting" containing factual distortions.
Club Membership Claims
The Skratch report also cited anonymous sources claiming Mickelson's alleged misconduct led to his removal from exclusive California clubs, including The Farms, The Madison, and The Bridges. One unnamed woman reportedly told Skratch that Mickelson propositioned her in graphic detail.
The report further suggested that Mickelson's wife, Amy, played a role in his departures from clubs, with claims of a strained relationship. One portion of the report alleged Mickelson paid pro-shop employees and club members to drive around courses with his phone to prevent his wife from tracking his whereabouts. Mickelson's representatives called this accusation "false" and criticized Shipnuck for involving Amy Mickelson, who they stated is not a public figure and did not consent to being part of the story.
Investigation into Prior Allegations
Separately, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office confirmed it had attempted to locate evidence for a potential sexual assault allegation involving Mickelson and a female employee at The Farms Golf Club. However, a spokesperson stated that the office did not receive any official reports of a sexual assault and had not found evidence to support such a claim. The office encouraged anyone with information to come forward.
Prior reports from Golf Digest had claimed Mickelson made "nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact" with a female employee at The Farms Golf Club, leading to his immediate removal from the grounds and revocation of his membership. A spokesperson for Mickelson had previously described this incident as a "misunderstanding."
Skratch editor-in-chief Ben Boskovich stood by Shipnuck's reporting, stating that Mickelson's team was given ample opportunity to respond to questions before publication. Boskovich also noted that while the PGA Tour owns a minority stake in Skratch, it does not impede independent reporting.
Mickelson withdrew from the Open Championship before the Skratch report surfaced and is missing the event for the first time in 17 years. He had previously announced an indefinite break from golf in February due to a family health matter.