Ashley Perez, the ex-wife of professional golfer Pat Perez, detailed a 2015 incident involving Phil Mickelson to Skratch’s Alan Shipnuck in which Mickelson allegedly showed her a full-body nude photo of himself and propositioned her for sex.
Per Skratch, Mickelson contacted Ashley ahead of the 2015 Barclays Championship and invited her and Pat to stay at his villa at Liberty National Golf Club. Ashley told Shipnuck that one night while she and Mickelson were on the balcony drinking wine, he made an advance when Pat stepped away to use the restroom.
Per Skratch, Mickelson took out his phone and showed Ashley a full-body picture of himself naked with an erection while flexing one bicep. Mickelson said to her: “I’m going to leave my bedroom door open tonight. When Pat falls asleep I want you to come see me.”
Ashley told Shipnuck she did not say anything to Pat when he returned from the restroom. “We were staying next door to Phil,” she said. “And Pat still had to play in the tournament. I didn’t want it to get messy.” Ashley told Shipnuck she informed Pat about the photo at the conclusion of the tournament. Pat did not confront Mickelson directly, but over time told so many people about the alleged incident that the story spread widely on Tour. Mickelson ultimately apologized to Pat during a corporate outing at the Madison Club in La Quinta, California.
Per Skratch, Mickelson also apologized to Pat in a separate phone call, which Ashley recorded and allowed Shipnuck to listen to, corroborating her account.
In 2022, Pat addressed the falling out on golf pro Claude Harmon’s podcast. “I have a different hate for Phil than most people,” Perez said. “Phil crossed the line with me that is just uncrossable and unforgivable. He knows he screwed up. He apologised for the action, but I cannot forgive him.”
Ashley told Shipnuck she came forward to encourage other women. “There is a culture of silence that keeps women from coming forward,” she said. “I want to give other women the courage to share their truth. With Phil, I feel like the pattern has been there for many years but people have been afraid to go public because it’s Phil Mickelson. We give these golfers so much adulation and money, they think they’re gods. They think they’re untouchable. Being a pro athlete doesn’t exempt you from behaving respectfully in society. With Phil, you’re dealing with an egotistical narcissist. I know the type — I used to be married to one. Phil will keep going until he gets caught. Actually, it takes more than that. If Phil’s behavior is ever going to change, he has to understand the trauma he has caused so many people in so many parts of his life.”
Mickelson’s attorney Tom Clare issued a statement to Skratch. “Some of the allegations circulating about Mr. Mickelson are false, and others revisit mistakes he has already acknowledged, publicly or privately,” Clare said. “Stacking the disputed claims next to the ones he has owned does not make them credible. It instead contributes to a false and misleading narrative. Recovery is not a straight line. Throughout their 35-year relationship, his wife, Amy Mickelson, has supported Mr. Mickelson and their family with extraordinary grace, unwavering love, and the belief that people are measured not only by their failures, but by what they do to make them right. Mr. Mickelson’s priority is to become the husband, father, and man his family deserves.”
The Perez account is the first of the misconduct stories to include a named source going on the record, per Skratch. Prior to the 2026 U.S. Open, Golf Digest reported that Mickelson lost his membership at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California for “non-consensual, inappropriate” behavior with a female employee. Per Skratch, Mickelson also departed the Madison Club and The Bridges in recent years.
Mickelson has played in just one professional event this season, finishing T48 at LIV Golf South Africa in March. He has cited a family health matter for his absence from LIV Golf, the Masters, and the PGA Championship. Per the Telegraph, Mickelson has also withdrawn from the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, which would mark the first time since 2009 he has not competed in the event.
