Phil Mickelson, a six-time major champion, is no longer a member of The Farms Golf Club near San Diego. This development follows accusations of inappropriate contact with a female employee at the club, according to reports.
The alleged incident occurred this past spring, prior to a round of golf. A female employee accused Mickelson of what was described as “nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact.” The employee reported the incident to her supervisors.
Club’s Response and Investigation
Club officials at The Farms Golf Club reportedly confronted Mickelson during his golf round and asked him to leave the premises. He departed the club before completing his round. The club issued a statement confirming that an individual is no longer a member following a staff report of misconduct.
The statement from The Farms indicated: “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.” Multiple sources cited in the reports identified the individual as Mickelson.
The club also stated that it conducts thorough reviews of all reported matters in accordance with California Law and takes appropriate action when warranted, consistent with its commitment to integrity, excellence, and accountability. To protect the safety and privacy of staff and members, the club stated it could not speak further on the matter.
Mickelson’s Statement and Absence from Tournaments
A spokesperson for Mickelson provided a statement, indicating that “Any misunderstanding has been cleared up.” The spokesperson added that Mickelson “continues to attend to a family health matter and is uncertain when he will be able to return to professional golf.”
Mickelson has retained defamation counsel, Tom Clare, who stated that the description of events is “squarely contradicted by objective, video evidence.” However, reports indicate that, according to The Farms, there is no camera footage of the alleged incident. Clare later provided a statement noting that there is a great deal of misinformation circulating and that Mickelson, while focused on a private family health matter, is determined to hold accountable any publication or individual trafficking in speculation or false rumors.
The 55-year-old golfer has played in only one tournament on the LIV Golf tour this year. This limited participation is due to what he and his camp have repeatedly termed a private health matter involving a family member. His lone appearance on LIV this season was in late March in South Africa, where he finished T-48.
Mickelson did not participate in either the Masters or the PGA Championship, for which he retains eligibility. He is also not in the field for the upcoming U.S. Open, the only major tournament he has not won. He would require a special exemption to play in the U.S. Open, as his exemption from his 2021 PGA Championship win has expired.
In a statement released on April 2, a week before the Masters, Mickelson explained he would not be playing at Augusta National and would be out for “an extended period of time as my family continues to navigate a personal health matter.”
Impact on Mickelson’s Career
Mickelson’s career trajectory has been described as both strange and fascinating. Once considered one of golf’s most popular players and a favorite among galleries, his presence and aura have reportedly diminished significantly since his move to LIV Golf in 2022.
While he continues to play in major tournaments where he is eligible, he is said to walk with smaller galleries. Since joining LIV, he has missed the cut at nine of the 14 majors he has played, including three of the four majors last year.
The employee involved in the alleged incident at The Farms Golf Club has been identified and verified, but declined to participate in the story, according to reports.
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Source: sports.yahoo.com
