Phil Mickelson’s representatives have forcefully pushed back against a recent article that accused the six-time major champion of a series of troubling behaviors, including showing a nude photograph of himself to a fellow professional golfer’s wife and being expelled from multiple golf clubs. In a detailed statement, Mickelson’s team described the report as a «drive-by shooting» of anonymously sourced allegations that prioritize a sensational narrative over factual accuracy.
The article, published earlier this month by Skratch, a golf media outlet founded by the PGA Tour, alleged that Mickelson had displayed a photo of himself nude and with an erection while flexing his bicep to Ashley Perez, the ex-wife of professional golfer Pat Perez. The story also claimed that Perez told Mickelson she could come to his bedroom after her then-husband fell asleep. Additionally, the report suggested that Mickelson had been forced out of several golf clubs due to misconduct, including an incident involving a female employee, and that his wife, Amy, had played a role in those departures.
Mickelson’s spokeswoman issued a comprehensive rebuttal, asserting that the golfer has never been expelled from a golf club and that his membership has never been revoked. «The clear implication (of the story) is that Mr. Mickelson was forced out of multiple golf clubs. He wasn’t,» the statement said. «Mr. Mickelson has never been expelled from a golf club. His membership has never been revoked by a golf club.» The statement further denied that Mickelson’s wife had any involvement in his decisions to leave clubs, calling that claim «false» and noting that «those decisions were his alone.»
The statement also addressed a separate allegation that Mickelson would give his phone to a young man in a pro shop and pay him $500 to drive around the course, creating the impression he was playing golf while his wife tracked his phone, allowing him to engage in secret rendezvous. Mickelson’s team dismissed this as a mischaracterization of a common family feature. «Shipnuck attempts to portray an ordinary ‘Find My’ family feature, used by millions of families every day, as something sinister. It wasn’t,» the statement said. «Anonymous speculation is presented as meaningful insight when it is nothing more than unsupported opinion.»
The response did not explicitly deny the allegation that Mickelson showed a nude photo to Ashley Perez, but it confirmed that he had apologized for his conduct. However, the spokeswoman stressed that the apology «should not be misconstrued as an admission of every allegation made against him.» She added, «Responsible journalism does not amplify the most sensational characterization of a disputed event while minimizing the fact that the allegation itself was challenged.»
The statement also raised concerns about potential bias, noting that Skratch was founded by the PGA Tour, while Mickelson has since defected to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league. «Taken together, these reporting failures expose an article that prioritizes a compelling, click-bait narrative over an accurate one,» the statement concluded. «Anonymous speculation is elevated over firsthand knowledge. Implication is used where facts fall short. Private family members are falsely drawn into public narratives without evidence. Context that undermines sensational allegations is minimized. Readers are left with conclusions the reporting itself never actually establishes.»
Mickelson has played in only one LIV Golf event this year and has not competed in any major championships, citing a «personal health matter.» The controversy adds to a turbulent period for the golfer, who has been a central figure in the rift between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. His representatives have urged readers and media outlets to demand higher standards of verification and transparency in reporting.
