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Earlier this month, Skratch published an article accusing Phil Mickelson of showing a nude photo of himself to another 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 defamation counsel to absolve “false rumors” about leaving his golf club, which turned out to be his own voluntary resignation.
A few days later, however, the Skratch Story spoke to Ashley Perez, the ex-wife of professional golfer Pat, who said Mickelson showed her a photo of himself naked 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 potential infidelity by Mickelson amid the abrupt end 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 on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, in Medinah, Illinois.
A representative for Mickelson, however, said the reporter was perhaps infamous for his style of “drive-by shooting” stories “from anonymous sources.”
“The clear implication (of this story) is that Mr. Mickelson was forced to leave several golf clubs. This is not the case. Mr. Mickelson has never been kicked out of any golf club. His membership has never been revoked by any golf club,” the statement said.
The statement also criticized Shipnuck for citing a source in which Mickelson’s wife, Amy, played a role in his departures from the clubs.
Phil Mickelson plays a shot from the fifth tee during day two of LIV Golf South Africa at the Steyn City Club in Johannesburg on March 20, 2026. (Johan Rynners/Getty Images)
PHIL MICKELSON ACCUSED OF SHOWING NAKED PHOTO TO EX-WIFE OF PRO GOLFER: “COME SEE ME”
“This is false. Mr. Mickelson was never forced by his wife or a golf club to give up his membership. Those decisions were his alone…” the statement said. “Instead, the source’s personal assumption regarding his involvement is presented as fact, and this unsupported speculation has since been repeated by other media outlets as if it were established truth. This is not the case.”
Mickelson’s spokeswoman also criticized Shipnuck for reporting that a source told her that Mickelson would give his phone to “a young man in the pro shop and pay him $500 to tour the course” so that his wife would believe he was playing golf while “tracking his phone” while he had his “secret tryst.”
“How does the member know all this? ‘The kid at the pro shop told me,'” the story reads.
“Shipnuck attempts to portray an ordinary ‘Find My’ family feature, used by millions of families every day, as something sinister. It is not. Anonymous speculation is presented as meaningful insight when it is nothing more than unsubstantiated opinion,” Mickelson’s spokeswoman said.
The statement does not deny the allegation that Mickelson showed Ashley Perez a photo of himself, but confirms that he “apologizes.”[d] for his conduct. However, this “should not be misconstrued as an admission of all allegations against him,” the spokeswoman said. “Responsible journalism does not amplify the most sensational characterization of a controversial event while downplaying the fact that the allegation itself was disputed. »
The statement also warns of potential “corporate” bias, since Skratch was founded by the PGA Tour and Mickelson has since defected to LIV Golf.
“Taken together, these reporting failures reveal an article that prioritizes compelling storytelling and clickbait over accurate storytelling. Anonymous speculation is superior to direct knowledge. Implication is used where facts are insufficient. Private family members are falsely drawn into public narratives without evidence. Context that undermines sensational claims is downplayed. Readers are left with conclusions that the reporting itself never actually establishes,” the statement concluded.
Phil Mickelson plays a shot from the fifth tee during day two of LIV Golf South Africa at the Steyn City Club in Johannesburg on March 20, 2026. (Johan Rynners/Getty Images)
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“Credibility is not achieved by publishing the most provocative story. It is achieved through transparency, verification, and a clear distinction between facts, inferences, and speculation. These standards protect readers just as much as they protect the people they write about. Readers should demand more. Journalism should, too.”
Mickelson has only competed in one LIV event this year and no major tournaments as he deals with a “personal health matter.”
