Phil Mickelson Resigns from Country Club Amid Allegations

The six-time major champion, Phil Mickelson, has stepped down from a country club near San Diego following accusations of inappropriate contact with a female employee. His lawyer confirmed the news.

According to Golf Digest, Mickelson is no longer associated with The Farms Country Club, where he was reportedly asked to leave during a round of golf after a staff member lodged a report about the alleged misconduct.

Tom Clare, a defamation attorney representing Mickelson, indicated that the golfer decided to resign from the club afterward.

This situation adds to a challenging period for Mickelson, who missed the Masters and the PGA Championship earlier this year due to personal health challenges within his family. He also participated in only one of the nine LIV golf events conducted this year.

Interestingly, he won’t be competing in the U.S. Open this weekend—a tournament where he has been the runner-up six times—since he has exhausted his exemption options.

Sources mentioned that Mickelson reportedly engaged in inappropriate, non-consensual physical contact after approaching the female employee in the clubhouse. The employee declined his advances and subsequently reported the incident to her supervisors.

Club management took the allegations seriously, investigating the matter and confronting Mickelson on-site. According to his age—55—he was asked to leave the premises. The Farms Golf Club later issued a statement outlining their support for the staff member and emphasizing their commitment to addressing such misconduct decisively.

“Following a staff member’s report of member misconduct, the club provided immediate and continued support to the staff member, conducted a thorough independent investigation into the incident, and took decisive action. This individual is no longer a member of The Farms Golf Club,” the statement clarified.

They also noted, “To protect the safety and privacy of our staff and members, we are unable to discuss this matter further.”

In reaction to the report, a spokesperson for Mickelson mentioned that the issue has been resolved. He continues to focus on his family’s health and it remains uncertain when he will return to the sport.

Mickelson, notably the oldest major champion in golf history after his win at the 2021 PGA Championship, has faced his share of controversies. In 2022, he lost a major sponsorship after labeling Saudi Arabia in a disparaging manner, and his involvement with LIV Golf, which is backed by Saudi funding, raised eyebrows, as he aimed to gain leverage over the PGA Tour.

The Farms, situated around ten miles from Torrey Pines, boasts several high-profile members, including elite athletes like Annika Sorenstam and Xander Schauffele.