Phil Mickelson’s Spokeswoman Slams Reporter for ‘Dragging’ Golfer’s Wife Into Allegation-Filled Exposé

Phil Mickelson’s spokeswoman has strongly rebutted recent claims of misconduct against the renowned golfer, labelling an article on the golf site Skratch as lacking credibility. In a detailed statement provided to PEOPLE, she characterises the piece authored by Alan Shipnuck as an “anonymously sourced drive-by shooting, heavy on implication but unsupported by any on-the-record sources.”

The allegations stem from an article published on June 28, which cited Ashley Perez, the estranged wife of fellow pro golfer Pat Perez. In her comments, she accused Mickelson of inappropriate behaviour, including an encounter in which he reportedly showed her an explicit photo of himself. These claims surfaced shortly after another report highlighted accusations of nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact involving a female employee at a golf club.

In her statement, Mickelson’s representative expressed particular frustration with the manner in which Shipnuck described Mickelson’s wife, Amy. “There was no legitimate journalistic reason to drag her into it,” the spokeswoman declared, underscoring that Mrs Mickelson is not a public figure and adding that the article allowed anonymous sources to speculate about her personal life and decisions without basis.

The article also suggested that Amy Mickelson had a role in influencing her husband’s golf club memberships, alleging that she compelled Mickelson to resign from the Madison Club in California due to infidelity claims. In response, the spokeswoman firmly stated that Mr Mickelson has never been forced to leave any golf club and that any membership decisions were made solely by him.

Further complicating the situation, last month Golf Digest reported that Mickelson had resigned from The Farms Golf Club following allegations made by a female employee. The article indicated that the resignation was linked to an incident involving inappropriate physical contact, a claim Mickelson has vehemently denied through his legal representative, Tom Clare.

In light of these allegations, the spokeswoman challenged the narrative put forth by Shipnuck and the sources he chose to amplify. “Shipnuck writes that Mr. Mickelson’s departure from The Farms ‘seems to be part of a larger pattern,’” she noted, refuting the implications that Mickelson was involuntarily expelled from multiple golf clubs.

Mickelson, now 56, is no stranger to controversy, but his spokesman maintains that the portrayal of the golfer in this incident is unfounded. “Mr. Mickelson has never been expelled from a golf club. His membership has never been revoked by a golf club,” the statement asserted, seeking to clarify his standing within the golfing community.

In defending his work, Alan Shipnuck countered the backlash by re-issuing a statement from Skratch’s editor-in-chief, Ben Boskovich, affirming that the publication stands by its reporting. The unfolding situation paints a complex picture of a celebrated athlete navigating serious allegations that have sparked considerable media attention.

As the controversy evolves, it remains to be seen how Mickelson will respond further to the allegations and whether these claims will impact his standing both in the sport and with fans. The broader implications for his reputation and career continue to be closely watched by the public and sports commentators alike.