Professional golfer Phil Mickelson has vehemently denied allegations of inappropriate conduct and is threatening legal action following an investigation published by Golf Digest. Through his attorney Tom Clare, Mickelson dismissed the report as “misinformation” and announced he has retained defamation counsel to pursue anyone spreading what he characterizes as speculation and false rumors.

The Golf Digest investigation detailed accusations that Mickelson engaged in inappropriate physical contact with a female employee at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California, a private club where the six-time major champion had been a long-standing member. According to the report, club officials responded swiftly to the incident, tracking Mickelson down while he was mid-round on the course and escorting him off the property. The club reportedly removed a framed photograph of the golfer from its walls, symbolizing a decisive break with the prominent member.

In a statement to Golf Digest, The Farms Golf Club confirmed it took immediate action following the staff member’s report. “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,” the club stated.

Mickelson’s attorney emphasized that the golfer’s focus remains on a private family health matter, which has kept him away from competitive play since March. The 54-year-old golfer, who currently plays on the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit, withdrew from this year’s Masters, citing family medical issues. He subsequently missed the PGA Championship and is not entered in next week’s U.S. Open, marking an extended absence from professional competition.

This latest controversy adds another chapter to what has been a tumultuous decade for Mickelson, whose career has been increasingly overshadowed by off-course incidents and controversies.

In 2016, Mickelson became entangled in an insider trading case involving sports gambler Billy Walters. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission accused Mickelson of purchasing $931,000 worth of stock based on a tip from Walters. Though named as a relief defendant rather than being formally charged, Mickelson agreed to repay the amount. Walters received a five-year federal prison sentence for conspiring to commit insider trading.

Five years later, a Detroit News investigation linked Mickelson to an alleged mob-connected bookie known as “Dandy” Don DeSeranno, who allegedly defrauded the golfer of $500,000. These disclosures emerged from a 2007 racketeering trial involving Jack Giacalone, whose relatives were suspects in the disappearance of Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa. Mickelson responded angrily to the article’s publication during the Rocket Mortgage Classic, calling it opportunistic and irresponsible, and vowing never to return to the Detroit tournament.

The year 2022 marked perhaps Mickelson’s most significant professional controversy when he became a central figure in launching LIV Golf, the Saudi Arabia-funded rival league that caused seismic disruptions in professional golf. In an interview with golf journalist Alan Shipnuck, Mickelson made inflammatory comments about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, acknowledging the regime’s role in the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi and its execution of gay individuals. Despite this, he defended his involvement as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates.” Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has since announced its financial support for LIV Golf will end this year.

Additional gambling revelations surfaced in 2023 with the publication of Billy Walters’ autobiography, “Gambler: Secrets from a Life at Risk.” Walters claimed Mickelson had wagered over $1 billion on various sports over three decades. The book detailed specific instances, including a single day in 2011 when Mickelson allegedly lost nearly $144,000 placing 43 bets on Major League Baseball games. Walters also revealed that Mickelson, while serving on the 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup team, expressed interest in betting on his own team, though Walters said he refused to facilitate such a wager.

As the current allegations unfold, Mickelson’s legal team has signaled an aggressive stance against media outlets and individuals they believe are spreading unverified information. The situation remains developing as the golfing community awaits further details and potential legal proceedings.