Phil Mickelson has reportedly been banned from a private golf club near his San Diego-area home after an alleged inappropriate encounter with a female employee earlier this year.
The 55-year-old golf legend was allegedly involved in the incident at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, where he has played for years, according to Golf Digest.
The outlet reported that Mickelson approached a woman at the club before one of his rounds and allegedly made “nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact” with her.
The woman reportedly rejected the interaction and later informed her supervisors.
“Club officials took the allegation seriously and moved quickly,” Golf Digest reported.
According to the outlet, Mickelson was confronted while he was still in the middle of his round and was told to leave the property.
Mickelson declined to comment directly on the allegations, Golf Digest reported. However, a spokesperson for the three-time Masters champion told the outlet, “Any misunderstanding has been cleared up.”
The Farms Golf Club said in a statement that its members are required to follow its Code of Conduct and that any misconduct allegations are taken seriously.
“Following a staff member report of member misconduct, the Club provided immediate and ongoing support to the staff member, conducted a thorough independent investigation of the incident and took decisive action,” a representative for the club told Golf Digest.
“This individual is no longer a member of The Farms Golf Club,” the statement continued.
The club added that it conducts reviews of reported matters under California law and takes action when warranted. It also said it could not comment further because of safety and privacy concerns involving staff and members.
Mickelson has been married to his wife, Amy, for 30 years.
He has also been away from professional golf since February, when he announced that he needed to step back to deal with a family matter.
His spokesperson told Golf Digest that Mickelson is still focused on that matter and is unsure when he will return to professional golf.
Mickelson has had a long relationship with The Farms. According to Golf Digest, the club was one of his regular practice spots and served as a key training ground before major championships.
The outlet also reported that a display honoring Mickelson inside the clubhouse has since been removed.
Tom Clare, a defamation attorney representing Mickelson, told Golf Digest that there is “a great deal of misinformation circulating” about the alleged incident.
“While Phil’s full attention is devoted to a private family health matter,” Clare said, “he has retained defamation counsel and is determined to hold accountable any publication or individual trafficking in speculation or false rumors.”
The report has stunned the golf world, adding another controversy to a career that has already seen Mickelson’s public image dramatically shift in recent years.