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Earlier this month, Skratch published a story accusing Phil Mickelson of showing a nude photo of himself to a fellow golfer’s wife amid other original reports that he had been kicked out of a golf club due to alleged misconduct with a female employee.
The five-time Major champion has obtained a defamation lawyer to clear up “false rumours” about his departure from the golf club, which turned out to be his own voluntary resignation.
However, days later, Skratch’s story spoke with Ashley Perez, the ex-wife of professional golfer Pat, who said Mickelson showed her a naked photo of himself with an erection and flexing his biceps and told her she could come to his room after her then-husband fell asleep. Skratch also interviewed other sources for his story who hinted at possible infidelity on Mickelson’s part amid abrupt terminations of memberships at other golf clubs.
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Phil Mickelson watches his tee shot on the 18th hole during the second round of the BMW Championship golf tournament at Medinah Country Club, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, in Medinah, Illinois.
However, a representative for Mickelson said the reporter may be famous for his “drive-by shooting” style of “anonymous source” stories.
“The clear implication (of the story) is that Mr. Mickelson was forced out of several golf clubs. This was not the case. Mr. Mickelson has never been expelled from a golf club. His membership has never been revoked by a golf club,” the statement said.
The statement also criticized Shipnuck for citing a source that Mickelson’s wife, Amy, played a role in his departure from the clubs.
Phil Mickelson plays a shot from the fifth tee during day two of LIV Golf South Africa at The Club at Steyn City in Johannesburg on March 20, 2026. (Johan Rynners/Getty Images)
PHIL MICKELSON ACCUSED OF SHOWING A NAKED PHOTO TO THE EX-WIFE OF A PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: ‘COME SEE ME’
“That is false. Mr. Mickelson has never been forced by his wife or any golf club to give up his membership. Those decisions were his alone…” the statement said. “Instead, the source’s personal assumption about his involvement is presented as fact, and that baseless speculation has since been repeated by other media outlets as if it were established truth. It is not.”
Mickelson’s spokeswoman also criticized Shipnuck for reporting that a source told her that Mickelson would give his phone to “a young man at the pro shop and pay him $500 to drive around the course,” so his wife would believe he was playing golf while “tracking her phone” since he had their “secret date.”
“How does the member know all this? ‘The guy at the pro shop told me,'” the story says.
“Shipnuck attempts to portray an ordinary family ‘Find My’ article, used by millions of families every day, as something sinister. It was not. Anonymous speculation is presented as a significant idea when it is nothing more than unsubstantiated opinion,” Mickelson’s spokeswoman said.
The statement does not deny the accusation that Mickelson showed Ashley Pérez a photo of himself, but it does confirm that he “apologizes.”[d] for his conduct.” However, that “should not be misconstrued as an admission of all allegations made against him,” the spokeswoman said. “Responsible journalism does not amplify the most sensational characterization of a disputed event while minimizing the fact that the allegation itself was disputed.”
The statement also warned of possible “corporate” bias, as Skratch was founded by the PGA Tour and Mickelson has since defected to LIV Golf.
“Taken together, these reporting flaws expose an article that prioritizes a compelling, click-bait narrative over an accurate narrative. Anonymous speculation is elevated over first-hand knowledge. Implication is used when facts fall short. Private family members are falsely dragged into public narratives without evidence. Context that undermines sensational accusations is minimized. Readers are left with conclusions that the report itself never establishes,” the statement concludes.
Phil Mickelson plays a shot from the fifth tee during day two of LIV Golf South Africa at The Club at Steyn City in Johannesburg on March 20, 2026. (Johan Rynners/Getty Images)
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“Credibility is not earned by publishing the most provocative narrative. It is earned through transparency, verification, and a clear distinction between facts, inferences, and speculation. Those standards protect readers as much as they protect the people being written about. Readers should demand more. Journalism should, too.”
Mickelson has played in only one LIV event this year and no major, as he attends to a “personal health matter.”
