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A day after an explosive report by Golf Digest, Phil Mickelson has issued a response through his attorney, calling the story "misinformation" and he's threatening legal action.
“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," attorney Tom Clare said in a statement.
This comes on the heels of an investigation that revealed Mickelson was accused of inappropriate physical contact with a female employee at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California, one of Mickelson's long-time hangouts. Club officials moved quickly, reportedly tracking Mickelson down on the course mid-round and escorting him off the property, even removing a framed photo of him off one of the walls of the club.
“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 Farms Golf Club said in a statement to Golf Digest.
Mickelson, a member of LIV Golf, hasn't played since March. He bowed out of the Masters, attributing his absense to a family medical issue. He later missed the PGA Championship and is not entered in the U.S. Open next week.
"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," attorney Tom Clare said in a statement.
2016: Mickelson is accused by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of buying $931,000 worth of stock, directly from an insider trading tip from sports gambler Billy Walters. Mickelson was a relief defendant, not charged in the case, and agreed to pay back the amount. Walters was sentenced to five years in federal prison for conspiring to commit insider trading.
2021: A Detroit News article linked Mickelson to an alleged mob bookie, "Dandy" Don DeSeranno, who allegedly cheated Mickelson out of $500,000. The disclosures were made in 2007 during the racketeering and extortion trial of Jack Giacalone, whose father and uncle were suspects in the still unsolved 1975 disappearance of Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa. While at the Rocket Mortgage Classic at the Detroit Golf Club, Mickelson and his representatives said the article was published to embarrass him, calling it "very opportunistic and selfish and irresponsible," and vowed he would not play in the tournament again.
2022: Mickelson was a key figure in helping launch LIV Golf, a Saudi Arabia-funded venture, which led to major defections from PGA Tour golfers. In an interview with golf journalist Alan Shipnuck, he called the Saudi regime "scary mother(expletive)". "We know they killed [Washington Post reporter and U.S. resident Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates," he was quoted as saying. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund said its financial support of LIV Golf is ending at year's end.
2023: In Walters' autobiography "Gambler: Secrets from a Life at Risk," he claimed Mickelson has wagered on various sports over the last three decades, totaling more than $1 billion. In one single day in 2011, Walters said Mickelson lost nearly $144,000 placing 43 bets on Major League Baseball. Walters also said Mickelson, a member of the 2012 Ryder Cup team, wanted to place a bet on the team, but he didn't help him do so.
USA TODAY Sports contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Phil Mickelson responds to report of inappropriate physical contact
Continue reading...
“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," attorney Tom Clare said in a statement.
This comes on the heels of an investigation that revealed Mickelson was accused of inappropriate physical contact with a female employee at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California, one of Mickelson's long-time hangouts. Club officials moved quickly, reportedly tracking Mickelson down on the course mid-round and escorting him off the property, even removing a framed photo of him off one of the walls of the club.
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“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 Farms Golf Club said in a statement to Golf Digest.
Mickelson, a member of LIV Golf, hasn't played since March. He bowed out of the Masters, attributing his absense to a family medical issue. He later missed the PGA Championship and is not entered in the U.S. Open next week.
"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," attorney Tom Clare said in a statement.
Timeline of events involving Phil Mickelson, 2016-2026
2016: Mickelson is accused by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of buying $931,000 worth of stock, directly from an insider trading tip from sports gambler Billy Walters. Mickelson was a relief defendant, not charged in the case, and agreed to pay back the amount. Walters was sentenced to five years in federal prison for conspiring to commit insider trading.
2021: A Detroit News article linked Mickelson to an alleged mob bookie, "Dandy" Don DeSeranno, who allegedly cheated Mickelson out of $500,000. The disclosures were made in 2007 during the racketeering and extortion trial of Jack Giacalone, whose father and uncle were suspects in the still unsolved 1975 disappearance of Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa. While at the Rocket Mortgage Classic at the Detroit Golf Club, Mickelson and his representatives said the article was published to embarrass him, calling it "very opportunistic and selfish and irresponsible," and vowed he would not play in the tournament again.
2022: Mickelson was a key figure in helping launch LIV Golf, a Saudi Arabia-funded venture, which led to major defections from PGA Tour golfers. In an interview with golf journalist Alan Shipnuck, he called the Saudi regime "scary mother(expletive)". "We know they killed [Washington Post reporter and U.S. resident Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates," he was quoted as saying. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund said its financial support of LIV Golf is ending at year's end.
2023: In Walters' autobiography "Gambler: Secrets from a Life at Risk," he claimed Mickelson has wagered on various sports over the last three decades, totaling more than $1 billion. In one single day in 2011, Walters said Mickelson lost nearly $144,000 placing 43 bets on Major League Baseball. Walters also said Mickelson, a member of the 2012 Ryder Cup team, wanted to place a bet on the team, but he didn't help him do so.
USA TODAY Sports contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Phil Mickelson responds to report of inappropriate physical contact
Continue reading...
