Phil Mickelson was investigated by law enforcement earlier this year over allegations that he was inappropriate with a woman at a golf club in San Diego, it has been revealed.
A bombshell report published by Golf Digest on Thursday claimed the American golf legend was removed as a member of The Farms Golf Club amid allegations of inappropriate physical contact from a female employee there.
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.
Golf icon Phil Mickelson was investigated earlier this year over an allegation of sexual assault
Mickelson, pictured with wife Amy, stepped away from golf indefinitely earlier in the year
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 grew up near to 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.’
