Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson is facing fresh scrutiny after a new report detailed allegations that he made an inappropriate advance toward the wife of fellow golfer Pat Perez during a PGA Tour event in 2015, according to The New York Post.
The claims were published by golf journalist Alan Shipnuck in a report for Skratch. Mickelson's representatives have strongly disputed parts of the allegations while acknowledging that he has previously apologized for past mistakes.
What are the allegations against Phil Mickelson
According to Shipnuck's report, the incident allegedly took place during the PGA Tour's Barclays tournament at Plainfield Country Club in New Jersey in 2015.
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Mickelson had reportedly invited Perez and his then-wife, Ashley, to stay at a villa near the course. The report claimed the three were drinking wine on the patio when Perez briefly left to use the restroom.
During that time, Ashley alleged that Mickelson showed her a nude photograph of himself on his phone. According to the report, Mickelson then allegedly told her: “I’m going to leave my bedroom door open tonight. When Pat falls asleep I want you to come see me.”
Ashley reportedly rejected the advance and later informed Perez about what had happened.
Perez allegedly shared the story within Golf circles
The report stated that Perez went on to recount the incident to numerous people within the golf community. According to Shipnuck, the story became so widely discussed. Neither Perez nor Ashley have publicly commented on the allegations beyond what was reported.
Mickelson reportedly apologized twice
Shipnuck reported that Mickelson later apologized to Perez on two separate occasions. One apology allegedly occurred at the Madison Club in Southern California. Another reportedly took place during a 26-minute phone call after Perez remarked on a 2022 podcast that he had: “a different hate for Phil than most people.”
According to the report, Mickelson alternated between expressing remorse and claiming he could not fully remember the details of the incident. At one point, Shipnuck wrote that Mickelson suggested he may have been only partially clothed in the photograph rather than fully nude.
The report added: “Without admitting what he had done, Mickelson apologized directly to both Pat and Ashley and said, ‘I can’t tell you how disgusted and embarrassed I am in myself.’”
Additional allegations mentioned in the report
Shipnuck's article also referenced another allegation made earlier this year involving a female employee at The Farms Golf Club. According to the report, Mickelson was accused of making "nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact."
The article further cited another woman who claimed Mickelson asked intrusive questions about her personal life before allegedly propositioning her.
Describing the encounter, the woman said: “It felt like verbal rape.” The allegations have not been proven in court, and Mickelson has denied or disputed several claims raised in recent reports.
Mickelson's Lawyer Responds
Mickelson's attorney, Tom Clare, issued a strongly worded response to the allegations. In a statement provided to The California Post, Clare said:
“A small segment of the golf media has decided that because Mr. Mickelson is a successful golfer, every detail of his private and family life is theirs to exploit.”
He continued: “Recycling mistakes he has already acknowledged as new reporting, and dragging private family matters into public view, is reckless. It is the pursuit of clicks at the expense of the truth. Do better.”
According to Clare, the statement was shared with Shipnuck before publication but was not included in the article.
Family Focus Amid Time Away From Golf
A spokesperson for Mickelson also defended the golfer, stating: “Some of the allegations circulating about Mr. Mickelson are false, and others revisit mistakes he has already acknowledged, publicly or privately. Stacking the disputed claims next to the ones he has owned does not make them credible. It instead contributes to a false and misleading narrative.”
The spokesperson added: “No person, no article, and no book can present an accurate, complete, or personal story of the life Mr. Mickelson and his family have lived. His story, struggles, and recovery belong to him and to the people who have shared it closely alongside him.”
The statement also praised Mickelson's wife, Amy Mickelson, saying: “Recovery is not a straight line. Throughout their 35-year relationship, his wife, Amy Mickelson, has supported Mr. Mickelson and their family with extraordinary grace, unwavering love, and the belief that people are measured not only by their failures, but by what they do to make them right.”
Why Phil Mickelson has been away from Golf
Mickelson has not competed professionally since February 2026. At the time, he announced that he was stepping away from golf to focus on a private family matter.
His representatives reiterated that his current priority remains his family, stating: “Mr. Mickelson’s priority is to become the husband, father, and man his family deserves. Right now, that means giving his full attention to a private family health matter.”
As the allegations continue to draw attention, Mickelson's camp maintains that several claims are inaccurate and that his focus remains on personal recovery and family responsibilities.
