Mickelson Misconduct Controversy
Phil Mickelson withdraws from Open Championship amidst widening sexual misconduct allegations
Key Points
The 2015 Barclays incident occurred at Plainfield Country Club in Edison, New Jersey, with Ashley Perez saying Mickelson showed her a full-body nude photo of himself and told her, 'I’m going to leave my bedroom door open tonight,' inviting her to his room while Pat slept as the Perezes stayed nearby.
Multiple clubs reportedly distanced themselves from Mickelson amid the misconduct controversy, with sources at the Madison Club and The Bridges in Rancho Santa Fe noting personal conduct as a primary factor in his departures.
Golf Digest reported a separate allegation involving a female club employee at a San Diego-area exclusive golf club who accused Mickelson of nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact, adding to the breadth of scrutiny around his behavior.
Pat Perez described Mickelson’s actions as crossing an 'uncrossable and unforgivable' line during a November 2022 podcast, a moment that helped catalyze a public reckoning and later apologies.
Mickelson’s lawyer Tom Clare released a statement to Skratch defending him, saying some allegations are false and emphasizing that stacking disputed claims with acknowledged ones does not make them credible, while noting the broader context of his 35-year marriage to Amy and his ongoing recovery.
Phil Mickelson withdrew from the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on June 27, 2026 — skipping all four majors in a single year for the first time in his career — as a cascade of sexual misconduct allegations stripped away his standing in professional golf. Telegraph Sport confirmed the withdrawal, coming just days after investigative journalist Alan Shipnuck published a detailed account of a 2015 incident in which Ashley Perez, ex-wife of golfer Pat Perez, accused Mickelson of showing her a full-body nude photo of himself and inviting her into his bedroom.
Three elite Southern California golf clubs have now severed ties with Mickelson in 2026, according to Times of India. A separate allegation from a female employee at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe involves what Golf Digest described as 'nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact.' Mickelson's attorney Tom Clare called the coverage 'reckless' and 'the pursuit of clicks at the expense of the truth.'
Ashley Perez Describes the 2015 Barclays Proposition
The central allegation traces to August 2015 during The Barclays tournament at Plainfield Country Club in Edison, New Jersey. Ashley Perez told Skratch that Mickelson showed her a nude photograph of himself while Pat was briefly out of the room. Mickelson then said, 'I'm going to leave my bedroom door open tonight. When Pat falls asleep, I want you to come see me,' she recalled.
Daily Beast reported that the rift between Mickelson and the Perez family had circulated as an 'urban legend' on the PGA Tour for years before Ashley went on the record. Pat Perez addressed it publicly in November 2022 on Claude Harmon's podcast, saying, 'Phil crossed the line with me that is just uncrossable and unforgivable.' TMZ later reported Mickelson made a 26-minute recorded phone call apologizing to the Perezes. Pat Perez has since filed for divorce.
Three Clubs Cut Ties as Institutional Exile Deepens
Golf Digest reported in June 2026 that Mickelson was expelled from The Farms Golf Club mid-round following an internal investigation into a complaint from a female employee. The club confirmed it took 'decisive action' and that Mickelson is 'no longer a member,' according to Sports Illustrated. The San Diego County Sheriff's Office reviewed the incident but found 'no evidence to show a criminal assault has occurred.'
Shipnuck's June 26 report on Skratch also revealed Mickelson was pushed out of the Madison Club and The Bridges in Rancho Santa Fe, with personal conduct cited as the primary reason at both clubs. Mickelson's attorney told Associated Press that Mickelson 'resigned' from The Farms and denied the specific misconduct claims. The combined departures amount to a near-total exile from the Southern California golf elite.
Mickelson's Legal Team Pushes Back Against 'Coordinated' Coverage
Attorney Tom Clare released a statement saying the reporting 'recycles mistakes he has already acknowledged' and drags 'private family matters into public view.' Clare argued that stacking disputed claims alongside acknowledged ones does not make them credible. He also pointed to Mickelson's 35-year marriage to Amy and what he called an 'ongoing recovery' as broader context, according to Daily Beast.
Mickelson previously withdrew from the Masters on April 2, 2026, citing a 'private family health matter,' per Us Weekly. His spokesperson has maintained that 'any misunderstanding has been cleared up,' according to The Guardian. Golf analysts have drawn parallels to Tiger Woods' 2009 scandal. But Heavy Sports noted that Mickelson faces the more serious label of institutional 'misconduct' rather than personal infidelity alone.
Career and Financial Future Hang in Uncertainty
Missing all four majors in 2026 marks a historic low for the six-time major champion. His future on LIV Golf is also unclear. The Guardian reported that LIV may be 'losing its Saudi Arabian funding,' a development that compounds Mickelson's personal troubles. He reportedly earned a $200 million signing bonus to join LIV in 2022 and holds an estimated net worth of $300 million.
The R&A and PGA of America have not issued bans, instead accepting the 'withdrawal' framing and allowing the 'family health matter' explanation to stand publicly, according to GolfWRX. But Skratch and Golf Digest have framed the story as a pattern of serial misconduct that elite institutions are no longer willing to overlook. Yardbarker reported that Ashley Perez's decision to speak publicly stems from a desire to challenge the 'culture of silence' in professional golf.
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