Phil Mickelson has been removed from his longtime California golf club following misconduct allegations, Golf Digest reported this week.
Mickelson, 55, is no longer a member of The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California, where the six-time major champion had played and practiced for decades. Citing multiple sources, Golf Digest reported that Mickelson is accused of making “nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact” with a female employee at the clubhouse before a round of golf earlier this spring.
The employee reported the incident to supervisors after the alleged contact occurred. Club officials initiated a review and located Mickelson mid-round, confronting him on the course before telling him to vacate the premises. He left before completing his round.
The Farms released a statement: “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.”
A display in the clubhouse featuring Mickelson’s accomplishments has since been removed.
Mickelson’s attorney responds
Mickelson’s attorney, Tom Clare, pushed back on the allegations in a statement to Golf Digest. “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,” Clare said.
Clare also claimed there is “objective video evidence” that refutes the allegations. However, Golf Digest reported that the club confirmed there is no video of the incident. A spokesperson for Mickelson confirmed he resigned from the club following publication of the story.
A difficult year
The episode adds to what has been a deeply difficult year for Mickelson away from the course. He has cited an ongoing family health matter for missing the vast majority of the 2026 season, including the Masters, the PGA Championship, and the U.S. Open. His only competitive appearance of the year came in March at LIV Golf South Africa, where he finished T48. Golf Digest confirmed the family health matter is separate from The Farms episode.
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Mickelson is still in the field for the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in July as a past champion, but his status for that event remains uncertain.
