New allegations have emerged concerning professional golfer Phil Mickelson, this time from the former spouse of a fellow tour player. The claims follow earlier reports this month that Mickelson's membership at a long-standing golf club was terminated after alleged inappropriate interactions with a female employee at The Farms Golf Club in the San Diego area this spring.
Allegations From 2015 Incident
Ashley Perez, ex-wife of golfer Pat Perez, recently shared an account of an unsettling encounter she claims occurred in 2015. At the time, she and Pat Perez were residing in a villa rented by Mickelson near Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, where Mickelson is a member. The incident reportedly took place during The Barclays tournament, held that year at nearby Plainfield Country Club.
In an interview, Ashley Perez stated that while she and Mickelson were briefly alone in a room, after Pat Perez had gone to the bathroom, Mickelson allegedly displayed a nude photograph of himself. She described the image as showing him with an erection and flexing his bicep. According to Ashley Perez, Mickelson then propositioned her, saying,
I’m going to leave my bedroom door open tonight. When Pat falls asleep I want you to come see me.
Ashley Perez indicated that she did not inform her then-husband about the incident until after the tournament concluded. She added that Mickelson later offered an apology for the alleged event. Reflecting on their initial meeting in 2014, Ashley Perez now believes she was being “groomed” by Mickelson.
Pat Perez's Past Comments and Mickelson's Response
Approximately four years ago, Pat Perez spoke about his strong negative feelings toward Mickelson on a podcast. He expressed profound disappointment, stating,
Phil crossed the line with me that is just uncrossable and unforgivable. He knows that he screwed up. He apologized for the action, but I cannot forgive him for it.
When recently approached for comment on the current allegations, Pat Perez declined, stating he was “not talking about Phil.”
The report that detailed Ashley Perez's allegations also included accounts from other individuals who claimed Mickelson had been unfaithful and cited instances of his memberships at various golf clubs ending abruptly.
A representative for Mickelson addressed the circulating claims with a statement:
Some of the allegations circulating about Mr. Mickelson are false, and others revisit mistakes he has already acknowledged, publicly or privately. Stacking the disputed claims next to the ones he has owned does not make them credible. It instead contributes to a false and misleading narrative.
The statement continued, emphasizing the complexity of Mickelson's personal life:
No person, no article, and no book can present an accurate, complete, or personal story of the life Mr. Mickelson and his family have lived. His story, struggles, and recovery belong to him and to the people who have shared it closely alongside him. Recovery is not a straight line. Throughout their 35-year relationship, his wife, Amy Mickelson, has supported Mr. Mickelson and their family with extraordinary grace, unwavering love, and the belief that people are measured not only by their failures, but by what they do to make them right. Mr. Mickelson's priority is to become the husband, father, and man his family deserves. Right now, that means giving his full attention to a private family health matter. He understands that parts of his life are public, but his family's private matters are not.
Both Pat Perez and Phil Mickelson are currently associated with LIV Golf. However, Mickelson has participated in only one tournament this year due to ongoing family issues, which has also led him to miss all three major championships.