Phil Mickelson denies club expulsions and nude-photo claim

Phil Mickelson has pushed back hard against allegations that he was expelled from multiple golf clubs for misconduct and that he propositioned Pat Perez’s ex-wife, Ashley Perez, by showing her a nude photo. His representatives denied the claims, disputed parts

Phil Mickelson’s silence ended with a firm denial—and the timing landed like a thunderclap in the middle of golf’s biggest week. After a report resurfaced and broadened allegations of misconduct. his representatives insisted he was never expelled from any golf club and rejected claims that he showed a nude photograph to a rival’s ex-wife.

The denials came as Mickelson’s camp responded to a piece published by Skratch reporter Alan Shipnuck. which his spokespeople described as containing “factual distortions.” Mickelson’s reps told the New York Post that “Mr. Mickelson has never been expelled from a golf club. ” adding that his “membership has never been revoked by a golf club.” They also said the decisions to leave those clubs were “his alone.”.

At the center of one allegation is Ashley Perez, the ex-wife of golfer Pat Perez. Ashley Perez told Shipnuck that Mickelson showed her a naked photograph of himself while the pair shared a living space with the couple during a 2015 tournament in New Jersey. The claim goes further: she said Mickelson told her he planned to leave his bedroom door “open” at night so he could see her once Pat had fallen asleep. according to the Skratch article. Mickelson’s representatives rejected the substance of those claims, and the dispute escalated into a matter of credibility.

The reporting described a tense 26-minute phone call between Mickelson and Perez. during which Mickelson was said to have alternated between contrition and vague denials. When his spokespeople responded to the New York Post. they pushed back on the idea that any willingness to apologize amounted to an admission. “Mr. Mickelson’s willingness to apologize for his conduct should not be misconstrued as an admission of every allegation made against him. ” his representatives said.

Shipnuck’s piece also cited anonymous sources to say Mickelson’s alleged misconduct led to him being kicked out of exclusive California clubs. including The Farms. The Madison and The Bridges. One woman, according to the Skratch article, said she was propositioned by Mickelson in graphic detail. Mickelson’s camp called those allegations false. His representatives also denied that his wife. Amy. had anything to do with his departures from various clubs. after the article suggested her strained relationship with him somehow factored into the story.

Even as the dispute spread, Mickelson’s absence from competition became immediate and tangible. He pulled out of the Open Championship before the Skratch report surfaced and will miss the event for the first time in 17 years.

The argument has been building for months. Mickelson previously denied allegations that he was removed as a member of The Farms Golf Club for inappropriate contact with female staff. Golf Digest reported in June that allegations made against him led to him being immediately removed from the grounds and stripped of his longtime membership.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to The Daily Mail that it “made attempts to locate any evidence to support the potential allegation of a sexual assault” involving Mickelson and the female employee. But an SDCSO spokesperson also said they did not receive any official reports of a sexual assault incident at the club and “have not located any evidence to show an assault has occurred.” The spokesperson added: “The Sheriff’s Office would absolutely investigate further if provided additional evidence or information. ” and encouraged anyone with information about an incident “to reach out to the Sheriff’s Office.”.

Golf Digest’s account claimed Mickelson approached the female employee and “made nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact” before she rejected his advances. The report said she then found him on the course mid-round. confronted him about the alleged incident. and that he was told to vacate the premises.

Mickelson’s spokesperson. who had previously said in February that he was stepping away from golf indefinitely due to a personal family health matter. called the latest incident a “misunderstanding.” The spokesperson said: “Any misunderstanding has been cleared up. Phil continues to attend to a family health matter and is uncertain when he will be able to return to professional golf.”.

Beneath the denials, another fight is taking shape—over who gets to control the narrative. Mickelson’s reps accused Skratch of harboring a grudge against him linked to his defection to the PGA Tour’s Saudi-backed rival. LIV Golf. a circuit that has since been defunded and now faces an uncertain future. They pointed out that the PGA Tour owns a minority stake in Skratch. “None of those relationships mean Skratch cannot report independently,” the statement said. “They do. however. create a corporate relationship that reasonable readers may consider relevant when evaluating an extensive investigation into Phil Mickelson. one of the most consequential players ever to leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf.”.

Skratch editor-in-chief Ben Boskovich doubled down on the reporting in a response to the statement provided to the Post. and said Shipnuck gave Mickelson and his spokespeople ample time to respond before publishing. “It’s bizarre that [Mickelson lawyer] Tom Clare is now challenging our reporting through The New York Post. ” Boskovich said in a statement. “Skratch Golf stands by its reporting.”.

For now. Mickelson’s camp is staking its position on a simple set of claims: he was never expelled. club departures were his choice. Amy was not involved. and the allegations—especially the nude-photo story—are false. Whether the wider public sees those statements as a clear rebuttal or a defensive retreat may depend on what comes next. but the consequences are already visible: his withdrawal from the Open Championship and a growing. unresolved collision between reputation and evidence.

Phil Mickelson golf misconduct allegations Ashley Perez Pat Perez nude photo allegation Skratch The Farms The Madison The Bridges Open Championship LIV Golf Amy Mickelson San Diego County Sheriff's Office