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Earlier this month, Skratch published a communicative that accused Phil Mickelson of showing a nude photograph of himself to a chap golfer's woman amid different original reports that he had been expelled from a play nine owed to alleged misconduct pinch a female employee.
The five-time awesome champion obtained defamation counsel to absolve nan "false rumors" astir his play nine departure, which turned retired to beryllium his ain voluntary resignation.
Days later, though, nan Skratch communicative said to Ashley Perez, nan ex-wife of pro golfer Pat, who said Mickelson showed her a image of himself nude pinch an erection and flexing his bicep and said she could travel to his chamber aft her then-husband fell asleep. Skratch besides interviewed different sources for its communicative who hinted astatine imaginable infidelity by Mickelson amid abrupt endings of memberships astatine different play clubs.
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Phil Mickelson watches his tee changeable connected nan 18th spread during nan 2nd information of nan BMW Championship play tourney astatine Medinah Country Club, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, successful Medinah, Ill.
A rep for Mickelson, though, said nan newsman is possibly infamous for a "drive-by shooting" style of "anonymously-sourced" stories.
"The clear accusation (of nan story) is that Mr. Mickelson was forced retired of aggregate play clubs. He wasn't. Mr. Mickelson has ne'er been expelled from a play club. His rank has ne'er been revoked by a play club," nan connection says.
The connection besides ripped Shipnuck for citing a root successful which Mickelson's wife, Amy, played a domiciled successful his departures from clubs.
Phil Mickelson plays a changeable from nan 5th tee during time 2 of LIV Golf South Africa astatine The Club astatine Steyn City successful Johannesburg connected March 20, 2026. (Johan Rynners/Getty Images)
PHIL MICKELSON ACCUSED OF SHOWING NUDE PHOTO TO PRO GOLFER'S EX-WIFE: 'COME SEE ME'
"That is false. Mr. Mickelson has ne'er been forced by his woman aliases by immoderate play nine to surrender his membership. Those decisions were his alone..." nan connection said. "Instead, nan source's individual presumption astir her engagement is presented arsenic fact, and that unsupported speculation has since been repeated by different media outlets arsenic though it were established truth. It is not."
Mickelson's spokeswoman besides ripped Shipnuck for reporting that a root told him Mickelson would springiness his telephone to "a young man successful nan pro shop and salary him $500 to thrust astir nan course," truthful his woman would judge he was playing play while "tracking his phone" arsenic he had his "secret rendezvous."
"How does nan personnel cognize each of this? 'The kid from nan pro shop told me,'" nan communicative reads.
"Shipnuck attempts to represent an mean 'Find My' family feature, utilized by millions of families each day, arsenic thing sinister. It wasn't. Anonymous speculation is presented arsenic meaningful penetration erstwhile it is thing much than unsupported opinion," Mickelson's spokeswoman said.
The connection does not contradict nan allegation that Mickelson showed Ashley Perez a photograph of himself but does corroborate he "apologize[d] for his conduct." However, that "should not beryllium misconstrued arsenic an admittance of each allegation made against him," nan spokeswoman said. "Responsible publicity does not amplify nan astir sensational characterization of a disputed arena while minimizing nan truth that nan allegation itself was challenged."
The connection besides warned of imaginable "corporate" bias, arsenic Skratch was founded by nan PGA Tour, and Mickelson has since defected to LIV Golf.
"Taken together, these reporting failures expose an article that prioritizes a compelling, click-bait communicative complete an meticulous one. Anonymous speculation is elevated complete firsthand knowledge. Implication is utilized wherever facts autumn short. Private family members are falsely drawn into nationalist narratives without evidence. Context that undermines sensational allegations is minimized. Readers are near pinch conclusions nan reporting itself ne'er really establishes," nan connection concludes.
Phil Mickelson plays a changeable from nan 5th tee during time 2 of LIV Golf South Africa astatine The Club astatine Steyn City successful Johannesburg connected March 20, 2026. (Johan Rynners/Getty Images)
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"Credibility is not earned by publishing nan astir provocative narrative. It is earned done transparency, verification, and a clear favoritism betwixt fact, inference, and speculation. Those standards protect readers conscionable arsenic overmuch arsenic they protect nan group being written about. Readers should request more. Journalism should, too."
Mickelson has played successful only 1 LIV arena this twelvemonth and nary fields arsenic he attends to a "personal wellness matter."
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