Phil Mickelson has withdrawn from next month’s Open at Royal Birkdale.
Phil Mickelson has withdrawn from next month’s Open, according to a report.
Telegraph Sport are reporting the 56-year-old has decided not to play in the final men’s major of the year next month.
Mickelson, who won the Claret Jug in 2013 after a memorable duel with Henrik Stenson, was hoping to make an appearance at Royal Birkdale.
He has largely been absent from competition this year, explaining that he and his wife, Amy, needed to focus on a “private family health matter.”
But his decision comes amid fresh allegations that Lefty showed a lewd photograph of himself to a fellow golfer’s wife.
Phil Mickelson has withdrawn from next month’s Open
On Friday, Skratch published a bombshell report detailing the alleged inappropriate behaviour by Mickelson.
In the article, written by Alan Shipnuck, he details an incident between Pat Perez, his ex-wife Ashley and Mickelson in 2015.
Mickelson had invited the couple to stay with him in New York during a PGA Tour event and all three spent an evening together enjoying a few drinks.
Ashley Perez claimed that when her then husband excused himself to go to the bathroom, Mickelson took out his phone and showed her an explicit photo.
She claimed the photograph showed a naked Mickelson “with an erection while flexing one bicep”.
“Phil says to me, ‘I’m going to leave my bedroom door open tonight,'” Ashley said. “When Pat falls asleep I want you to come see me.
“We were staying next door to Phil, and Pat still had to play in the tournament.”
Phil Mickelson’s attorney has disputed the allegations
Ashley said she didn’t immediately tell her husband what happened as she didn’t want to distract him during the tournament.
Pat Perez touched on the incident during an appearance Claude Harmon’s podcast in 2022, accusing Mickelson of “crossing the line”.
He never provided the full details of what happened and declined to comment for the latest article.
“Phil crossed the line with me that is just uncrossable and unforgivable,” he said on Harmon’s podcast.
“He knows he screwed up. He apologised for the action, but I cannot forgive him.”
Shipnuck claimed on X that Ashley wasn’t paid for her involvement in the piece that was published on a PGA Tour-affiliated website.
There is only one reason why she is coming forward now, Ashley said.
“I want to give other women the courage to share their truth,” she said.
“With Phil, I feel like the pattern has been there for 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.”
She added “Phil will keep going until he gets caught.
“If Phil’s behaviour is ever going to change, he has to understand the trauma he has caused so many people in so many parts of his life.”
Phil Mickelson’s attorney attacked the latest claims
Mickeson’s attorney, Tom Clare, told Skratchthat some of the claims about the golfer are outright false.
Whilst others “revisit mistakes” that he has already acknowledged publicly or privately.
“Stacking the disputed claims next to the ones he has owned does not make them credible,” he said.
“It instead contributes to a false and misleading narrative.
“No person, no article, and no book can present an accurate, complete, or personal story of the life Mr Mickelson and his family have lived.
“His story, struggles, and recovery belong to him and to the people who have shared it closely alongside him. 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.
“Right now, that means giving his full attention to a private family health matter.
“He understands that parts of his life are public, but his family’s private matters are not.”
The report comes weeks after Golf Digest reported on Mickelson’s abrupt departure from a high-end golf club in San Diego.
GD reported Mickelson had his membership revoked from The Farms Golf Club over allegations of inappropriate contact with a female employee.
Mickelson was also booted out of The Farms, according to Golf Digest
Said incident is alleged to have occurred earlier this spring.
The employee reportedly rejected his advances and immediately told her supervisors
Mickelson was asked to leave mid-round and club officials launched an internal review.
GD reported Mickelson had his membership revoked and pictures of the hall of famer were taken down inside the clubhouse.
Clare described the incident as a “misunderstanding” that had been “cleared up”.
He also said Mickelson resigned his membership, though Skratch reported this was a case of jumping before being pushed.
The publication also reported that Mickelson had left two other clubs in San Diego where his personal conduct was a primary factor.
Mickelson’s decision to skip next month’s Open means that golf’s oldest major will be without two of the all-time greats.
Tiger Woods, 50, will also be absent. Woodscrashed his car in March and has been charged with driving under the influence.
Although he pleaded not guilty, he sought treatment at a rehab clinic in Switzerland.
He returned to the United States earlier this month and made his first public appearance since the crash on Tuesday.
Woods was present as the PGA Tour outlined a revamp to their schedule and structure that will take affect from 2028.
The 15-time major champion refused to discuss his latest brush with the law.