Golf icon Phil Mickelson has come out swinging in response to bombshell allegations made against him by a female employee at an exclusive course in Southern California.
A report from Golf Digest earlier this week claimed that the six-time major champion was removed as a member of The Farms Golf Club amid allegations of inappropriate physical contact from a female staff member there.
He was investigated by law enforcement earlier this year over the allegations, but now Mickelson – via his attorney – has hit back.
The 55-year-old has retained high-profile defamation attorney Tom Clare to represent him in the case, who claims they have video evidence that proves Mickelson is in the clear.
‘There is a great deal of misinformation circulating and, while Phil’s full attention is devoted to a private family health matter, he has retained defamation counsel and is determined to hold accountable any publication or individual trafficking in speculation or false rumors,’ Clare said in a statement to Golf Digest.
It was initially reported that the allegations made against Mickelson led to him being immediately removed from the grounds and stripped of his longtime membership.
Golf icon Phil Mickelson was investigated earlier this year over an allegation of sexual assault
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed to The Daily Mail that it ‘made attempts to locate any evidence to support the potential allegation of a sexual assault’ involving Mickelson and the female employee.
However, an SDCSO spokesperson revealed they did not receive any official reports of a sexual assault incident at the club and ‘have not located any evidence to show an assault has occurred.’
‘The Sheriff’s Office would absolutely investigate further if provided additional evidence or information,’ the spokesperson added. ‘We encourage anyone with information regarding an incident such as this to reach out to the Sheriff’s Office.’
Golf Digest’s report claimed Mickelson approached the female employee and ‘made nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact’ before she rejected his advances.
He was then located on the course mid-round and confronted about the alleged incident and told to vacate the premises, the report adds.
A spokesperson for Mickelson, who in February announced he was stepping away from golf indefinitely due to a personal family health matter, called the incident ‘a misunderstanding’.
The spokesperson said: ‘Any misunderstanding has been cleared up. Phil continues to attend to a family health matter and is uncertain when he will be able to return to professional golf.’
Mickelson, pictured with wife Amy, stepped away from golf indefinitely earlier in the year
Mickelson grew up near San Diego and has been married to his wife, Amy, since 1996 and they have three kids together. Amy has previously battled breast cancer, with Phil suspending his golf schedule in May 2009 to support her with her treatment.
The six-time major champion, who celebrates his 56th birthday on Tuesday, has been offered the chance to comment by the Daily Mail.
The Farms Golf Club said to Golf Digest: ‘Following a staff member report of member misconduct, the Club provided immediate and ongoing support to the staff member, conducted a thorough independent investigation of the incident and took decisive action.
‘This individual is no longer a member of The Farms Golf Club.’
Mickelson’s absence from professional golf on the LIV circuit has been especially noticeable in recent weeks given the tour is fighting for its future.
He missed the start of the LIV Golf season, returned for one tournament in South Africa in March, but then stepped away again, even pulling out of the Masters.
Mickelson was one of the first golfers to ditch the PGA Tour for Saudi millions but in an interview with golf author Alan Shipnuck about the move in 2022, described his new employers as ‘scary motherf***ers to get involved with.’
