Ludvig Åberg — Phil Mickelson had his membership at The Farms Golf Club revoked after an independent investigation into alleged misconduct, the club said Thursday. The Farms added that the individual is no longer a member, and Mickelson’s camp says he is focused on a family health matter and uncertain when he will return to professional golf.
The Farms Golf Club 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,” The Farms Golf Club said in a statement released Thursday. The club also said it is “committed to maintaining a golf club environment that is safe, respectful and reflects the highest standards of conduct.”
Phil Mickelson Spokesperson Statement
Golf Digest first reported the membership revocation Thursday, citing anonymous sources that said the incident involved unwanted contact with a female employee. A spokesperson for Mickelson told Golf Digest, “Any misunderstanding has been cleared up. Phil continues to attend to a family health matter and is uncertain when he will be able to return to professional golf.” Mickelson has said on social media that he and Amy needed to be present for that family health matter, and he announced in April he would miss the Masters.
San Diego County Sheriff’s Office
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office provided multiple statements to The Athletic, saying, “The Sheriff’s Office has made attempts to locate any evidence to support the potential allegation of a sexual assault.” The Sheriff’s Office added, “At this time, we have not located any evidence to show an assault has occurred,” and that investigators “would absolutely investigate further if provided additional evidence or information.”
For context on Mickelson’s playing status: he has played just once since August, missed four of the first five LIV Golf events this season, did not qualify for next week’s U.S. Open and no longer holds the five-year exemption from his 2021 PGA Championship victory.
The Farms told The Athletic it pulled Mickelson’s membership after completing its independent inquiry; the club characterized the action as decisive and tied to its Code of Conduct. Golf Digest’s reporting supplying the allegation about unwanted contact and Mickelson’s spokesperson statement that a misunderstanding was cleared up sit in direct tension with the sheriff’s office finding that it had not located evidence of an assault.
What specific conduct led The Farms Golf Club to revoke Phil Mickelson’s membership?
