(Photo by Johan Rynners/Getty Images)
Phil Mickelson’s membership at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California, was reportedly terminated after a female club employee accused him of “inappropriate contact.”
According to The Guardian, several sources familiar with the situation claimed that Mickelson approached an unnamed female employee at the clubhouse earlier this spring and allegedly made “nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact” with her. The employee reportedly rejected the alleged advance and later informed her supervisors about the incident.
The report claimed that club officials began reviewing the matter while Mickelson, 55, was playing a round at the club. The six-time major champion was then reportedly questioned about the allegation on the course and asked to leave the property. He reportedly complied without delay.
The Farms Golf Club for comment, the club said in an official statement: “The Farms Golf Club is committed to maintaining a golf club environment that is safe, respectful, and reflects the highest standards of conduct.
“All members are required to adhere to our Code of Conduct, and any allegations of misconduct are taken seriously.” Phil Mickelson will not compete in next week’s PGA Championship as he continues to deal with a family health issue, tournament organizers confirmed.
The statement continued: “Following a staff member’s 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 Farms conducts thorough reviews of all reported matters according to California Law and takes appropriate action when warranted, consistent with our commitment to integrity, excellence and accountability. To protect the safety and privacy of our staff and members, we are unable to speak further on this matter. We appreciate your understanding.”
A representative for Mickelson disputed the seriousness of the matter and maintained that any “misunderstanding” related to the incident had been “cleared up.” The representative also said, “Phil continues to attend to a family health matter and is uncertain when he will be able to return to professional golf.”
Defamation lawyer Tom Clare also told Golf Digest that he was representing Mickelson. He argued that the allegations against Mickelson were “squarely contradicted by objective, video evidence.”
However, Golf Digest reported that it could not find any footage of Mickelson’s interaction with the female staff member. A representative from The Farms also said there was no video capturing “any direct interaction” between the two.
In a follow-up statement, Clare said: “There is a great deal of misinformation circulating and, while Phil’s full attention is devoted to a private family health matter, he has retained defamation counsel and is determined to hold accountable any publication or individual trafficking in speculation or false rumors.”
Before the reported termination of his membership, Mickelson was said to have frequently practiced at The Farms ahead of major tournaments. The golfer has also been away from competition since February due to a family health issue.
