Mickelson's Camp Addresses Skratch Investigation Claims
Six-time major golf champion Phil Mickelson has, through his representatives, refuted new allegations of misconduct brought forth in an investigation by the golf publication Skratch. His team characterized the article as an “anonymously sourced drive-by shooting.”
The Skratch investigation, authored by journalist Alan Shipnuck, suggested that Mickelson was no longer welcome at three California golf clubs due to alleged inappropriate behavior toward women. The report also included a claim from Ashley Perez, who is the former wife of PGA Tour player Pat Perez, alleging that Mickelson showed her an explicit photograph of himself and made propositions in 2015.
This Skratch investigation follows previous reports where Mickelson departed a prominent California golf club amid allegations of inappropriate contact with a female employee, which he also denied.
Response to Specific Allegations
A statement from the 56-year-old golfer's camp, issued in response to the Skratch claims and sent to the New York Post, indicated that the publication's account of the Perez photograph incident lacked crucial details. It suggested a misunderstanding for which Mickelson later offered an apology. The statement clarified, “Mr Mickelson’s willingness to apologise for his conduct should not be misconstrued as an admission of every allegation made against him.”
Regarding the claims of expulsion from golf clubs, the statement asserted: “Mr Mickelson has never been expelled from a golf club. His membership has never been revoked by a golf club. Those decisions were his alone.”
Critique of Skratch's Reporting
Mickelson's representatives also criticized Skratch's reliance on anonymous sources and questioned whether readers should have been reminded of the publication's historical connections to the PGA Tour. Mickelson famously left the PGA Tour in 2022 to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf organization.
“Credibility is not earned by publishing the most provocative narrative,” the statement read. “It is earned through transparency, verification, and a clear distinction between fact, inference, and speculation.”
However, Skratch editor-in-chief Ben Boskovich stated that the publication “stands by its reporting.” He informed the Post that Mickelson, his wife, and his lawyer were all given the opportunity to respond prior to the article's publication.
Mickelson has participated in only one LIV tournament this year, held in South Africa in March, having missed the remainder of their schedule to prioritize “a family health matter.”
