A bombshell report has claimed American golf great Phil Mickelson was removed as a member of a golf club in San Diego amid allegations of inappropriate physical contact from a female employee there.
According to Golf Digest, the incident involving the six-time major winner, 55, happened earlier this spring at The Farms Golf Club.
The report says Mickelson approached the employee and ‘made nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact’ and that the woman 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.’
Phil Mickelson has been accused of ‘inappropriate physical contact’ by a woman
Mickelson, pictured with wife Amy, stepped away from golf indefinitely earlier in the year
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.
Mickelson, 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.’
He was quoted as saying: ‘We know they killed [Washington Post reporter Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates.’
Mickelson, who was paid around $125m to sign with LIV, later insisted he never said those words or gave Shipnuck an interview.
MORE TO FOLLOW
