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Membership Revoked
Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson had his membership revoked by The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., after an independent investigation into allegations of inappropriate contact with a female employee.
“- Published Six-time major winner Phil Mickelson's membership at a high-end golf club has been revoked amid allegations of inappropriate contact with a female employee at the Californian establishment”
The BBC said Mickelson was asked to leave mid-round after the incident, which the BBC described as occurring earlier this spring at the Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe near San Diego.
The Farms’ statement to BBC Sport said, "This individual is no longer a member of The Farms Golf Club," and the club added it could not speak further "To protect the safety and privacy of our staff and members."
The New York Times reported the club confirmed it pulled Mickelson’s membership and that Mickelson’s spokesperson told the publication, "Any misunderstanding has been cleared up."
Dispute and Health Break
Mickelson’s attorney Tom Clare disputed aspects of the reporting and said there is "a great deal of misinformation circulating," while Clare added that Mickelson intends to pursue action against those spreading what he described as false rumors.
The Athletic-linked spokesperson comments were echoed across outlets, with The Guardian reporting that a spokesperson for Mickelson said, "Any misunderstanding has been cleared up," and that Phil continues to attend to a family health matter.
The Farms’ review process was described by the BBC as involving a staff member report of member misconduct, followed by "a thorough independent investigation" and "took decisive action" before removing the member.
The New York Times also tied the timing of Mickelson’s broader absence from golf to health, saying Mickelson announced in April he would miss the Masters and step away for an extended period "as my family continues to navigate a personal health matter."
What’s at Stake Next
The Farms’ decision immediately reshaped Mickelson’s access to a key practice base, with The New York Times describing The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., as his longtime club and the place where his membership was pulled.
“Phil Mickelson has been accused of “inappropriate contact” with a female golf-club employee, according to a report from Golf Digest”
The BBC framed the incident as part of a wider pattern of controversies around Mickelson, noting that he was among the first recruits to LIV Golf and that he missed the 2022 Masters and the defence of his US PGA title after derogatory comments about Saudi Arabian backers.
The BBC also reported that Mickelson has played only one LIV tournament this year, in South Africa, while missing the rest of their schedule to prioritize a "family health matter," and it said this absence from competitive golf is not thought to relate to the alleged incident at the Farms.
Beyond the club dispute, The New York Times said Mickelson has played just once since August, missed four of the first five LIV Golf events this season, did not qualify for next week’s U.S. Open, and had his five-year exemption from winning the 2021 PGA Championship expire.
