Phil Mickelson has been banned from The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California, following allegations of unwanted physical contact with a female employee, as reported by Golf Digest. The incident reportedly took place earlier this spring and has resulted in Mickelson, a six-time major champion, being unwelcome at the club where he has played and practiced for decades.
According to sources, the alleged contact occurred in the clubhouse. The woman involved rejected Mickelson’s advances and reported the incident to her supervisors. The club conducted an investigation and subsequently asked Mickelson to leave the premises.
A spokesperson for Mickelson mentioned that any misunderstandings have been resolved and that Mickelson continues to focus on a family health issue that has affected his golfing schedule. He missed the Masters and PGA Championship and is no longer exempt from the U.S. Open.
The Farms Golf Club stated, “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. This individual is no longer a member of The Farms Golf Club.” They emphasized they could not discuss the matter further to protect privacy.
The Farms is known for having several top players as members, including Annika Sorenstam and Xander Schauffele. This situation marks another challenging episode for Mickelson, who was once a beloved figure in the golf community.
Previously, Mickelson was involved as a relief defendant in an insider trading scheme in 2016 and was asked to repay nearly $1 million. The case included gambler Billy Walters, who later claimed in an autobiography that Mickelson wagered over $1 billion in 30 years. One reported incident in 2011 involved Mickelson losing $143,500 through 43 bets on Major League Baseball in a single day.
In 2021, Mickelson made history by winning the PGA Championship as the oldest major champion. He also played a central role in launching the Saudi-funded LIV Golf, but lost major sponsorships after controversial remarks about the Saudis became public. The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia is reportedly ending its support of LIV after this year.