Earlier this year, Phil Mickelson admitted himself to a rehabilitation center to address “family trauma and addiction issues,” as stated in a release sent to various media organizations by his spokespeople.
Although he has since been discharged, Mickelson sat out most of the 2026 golfing year, participating solely in a single LIV Golf tournament held in South Africa and bypassing all four major tournaments, despite holding entry exemptions for three of them.
He first blamed a “family health issue” for missing the start of the LIV Golf schedule, later issuing a press release explaining that his household was dealing with a “private health situation” when he confirmed he opted out of the Masters tournament back in April.
Come June, news surfaced that Mickelson’s membership was terminated at his home course, Rancho Santa Fe’s The Farms Golf Club, following allegations of inappropriate and unwanted physical contact with a female staff member. While the establishment refrained from identifying Mickelson by name, they did verify that an altercation took place resulting in a member’s expulsion.
Legal counsel for Mickelson refuted these claims, declaring that “any confusion has been resolved,” while reaffirming that his client’s focus remained on a domestic health situation.
A few weeks after that, Ashley Perez, the former spouse of Pat Perez, came forward with several allegations of vulgar conduct by Mickelson, which included an incident in 2015 where he reportedly made sexual advances toward her. In response to these public accusations, Mickelson’s legal representative released another statement, noting that the golfer was actively in rehab while being supported by his spouse, Amy.
“The journey to healing is rarely a direct path. Over the course of their 35 years together, his spouse, Amy Mickelson, has stood by her husband and family with incredible dignity, steadfast devotion, and the conviction that individuals should be judged not merely by their missteps, but by their efforts to correct them. Mickelson’s primary focus is to be the partner, parent, and person his loved ones deserve. At this moment, this requires dedicating his undivided focus to a confidential family health issue. While he recognizes that certain aspects of his life belong to the public, his household’s private affairs do not.”
In addition to these multiple claims of misconduct, Mickelson has previously spoken openly about his struggles with a gambling compulsion over the past several years.
The 56-year-old golfer, who holds six major titles, has seen his athletic achievements overshadowed lately, with public attention regrettably pivoting to his personal scandals. Notably, the 2026 campaign was the very first time since 1989 that Mickelson was absent from all four major golf tournaments.
