Phil Mickelson Resigns from Country Club Following Misconduct Allegations

Phil Mickelson has resigned from The Farms Country Club near San Diego following allegations of inappropriate contact with a female employee, according to his lawyer Tom Clare, a defamation attorney hired by the golfer. Golf Digest initially reported that Mickelson was no longer a member of the private club and that he was asked by club management to leave the course during his round after the employee reported the misconduct.

According to Golf Digest's sources, Mickelson approached the woman in the clubhouse and made nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact with her. The woman rejected his advances and reported the incident to her supervisors. The club's management subsequently investigated the allegation, confronted Mickelson on the course, and asked him to leave the premises. The Farms Country Club confirmed in a statement that following a staff member's report of member misconduct, the club conducted a thorough independent investigation and took decisive action, noting that "this individual is no longer a member of The Farms Golf Club."

A spokesperson for Mickelson stated in response to the reporting that "any misunderstanding has been cleared up" and that the golfer "continues to attend to a family health matter and is uncertain when he will be able to return to professional golf." This incident occurs during a difficult period for the 55-year-old champion, who withdrew from the Masters and PGA Championship this year citing a personal family health matter. He competed in only one of nine LIV Golf events this year and is ineligible to compete in the U.S. Open this weekend after exhausting his exemptions.

Mickelson, a six-time major winner, made history in 2021 when he became the oldest major champion in golf history at the PGA Championship. He became a central figure in launching Saudi-funded LIV Golf in 2022, though he faced significant sponsorship losses after controversial comments about Saudi Arabia surfaced that year. The Farms, located approximately ten miles from Torrey Pines, is a prestigious private club whose members include notable golfers such as Annika Sorenstam and Xander Schauffele.