Phil Mickelson is celebrated for six major championships and complicated by escalating controversies. This article pulls together the key facts behind his health, wealth, and the misconduct allegations that surfaced in 2026.
Six‑time major winner: 6 · PGA Tour wins: 45 · Age: 54 · LIV Golf team: HyFlyers GC captain · Net worth estimate: $400 million
Quick snapshot
- Won six major championships (PGA Tour)
- Signed with LIV Golf in June 2022 (LIV Golf)
- Diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis (Arthritis Foundation)
- Made controversial comments about PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia in Feb. 2022 (Golf Digest)
- Whether Mickelson is a billionaire – Forbes estimates $400 million
- Full scope of misconduct allegations reported by Skratch (Chicago Tribune)
- Current status of relationship with Rory McIlroy – no recent public reconciliation (GOLF.com)
- 1970 – Born in San Diego, California (PGA Tour)
- 1992 – Wins Masters as amateur (Masters)
- 2004 – First professional major at Masters (PGA Tour)
- February 2022 – Controversial comments published (Golf Digest)
- June 2022 – Joins LIV Golf (LIV Golf)
- June 2026 – Skratch misconduct allegations published (USA Today)
- Legal response expected: Mickelson’s attorney denies allegations (Washington Times)
- LIV Golf 2025 schedule includes regular appearances (Washington Times)
- Potential defamation suit by Mickelson (Forbes)
The key facts table below provides a reference for Phil Mickelson’s core career and personal statistics, as reported by major sports outlets.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Philip Alfred Mickelson |
| Date of birth | |
| Age | 54 |
| Turned professional | 1992 |
| Current tour | LIV Golf |
| Major wins | 6 |
| Estimated net worth | $400 million (Forbes) |
Why is Phil Mickelson not playing golf anymore?
Phil Mickelson hasn’t retired from professional golf — he still competes in LIV Golf events and at major championships. What changed is his relationship with the PGA Tour. In February 2022, comments he made to writer Alan Shipnuck were published, in which he described Saudi Arabia, the PGA Tour’s backer in the LIV negotiations, as “scary motherf—ers” and said he was willing to overlook human‑rights concerns for leverage against the tour (Golf Digest). The fallout was immediate: he lost sponsors, took a self‑imposed hiatus from golf, and announced in June 2022 that he would join LIV Golf (LIV Golf). Since then he has played exclusively on the LIV circuit and in the four majors, effectively ending his PGA Tour career without a formal retirement.
The pattern: His career now has two distinct eras, split by the 2022 controversy and his move to LIV Golf.
What is Phil Mickelson’s illness?
Mickelson has psoriatic arthritis, an autoimmune condition that causes joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. He was diagnosed around 2008–2010 and has spoken openly about the challenges of managing it while playing elite golf (Arthritis Foundation). He uses biologic medications such as Enbrel to control inflammation and says diet and exercise help keep symptoms manageable (Golf Digest). Although the condition is chronic, it has not forced him to retire — he credited his 2021 PGA Championship victory in part to adapting his training around flare‑ups.
Mickelson’s willingness to discuss psoriatic arthritis has made him a visible advocate, but the disease’s unpredictability means every season includes periods when his practice and recovery routines must shift.
The implication: His health management is a constant, behind-the-scenes factor in his performance.
What is Phil Mickelson accused of?
How did misconduct allegations surface?
- Golf Digest reported in June 2026 that a female employee at The Farms Golf Club near San Diego accused Mickelson of nonconsensual physical contact before a round in spring 2026 (Chicago Tribune).
- Club management confronted Mickelson on the course and told him to leave before finishing (On3).
- The club said it received a staff report, offered support, and conducted an independent investigation (Chicago Tribune).
What did the Skratch article report?
- Alan Shipnuck, writing for Skratch in June 2026, alleged that Mickelson showed a nude photo to Ashley Perez in 2015 and made inappropriate propositions (USA Today).
- The story cited 19 anonymous sources who described a pattern of lewd language and advances at the Madison Club and Bridges Farm (Chicago Tribune).
- Mickelson’s attorney, Tom Clare, denied the accusations and said objective video evidence contradicts them (Washington Times).
- The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office investigated a potential sexual assault allegation but said it found no evidence that an assault occurred (New York Post).
The allegations rest on anonymous accounts and a disputed club incident; the sheriff’s office found no corroborating evidence. Yet the pattern of club departures and the volume of sources lend the story weight that is hard to dismiss.
The implication: The core factual dispute — whether Mickelson was forced out of clubs or left voluntarily — remains unresolved, with both sides offering conflicting narratives (USA Today).
Does Rory McIlroy get along with Phil Mickelson?
Publicly, the relationship between Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson has been strained since early 2022. McIlroy sharply criticized Mickelson’s comments about the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia, calling them “naive,” “selfish,” and “arrogant” (GOLF.com). After Mickelson’s move to LIV Golf, McIlroy said he viewed the breakaway league as damaging to the sport (BBC Sport). Mickelson has said he holds no grudge, but the two have not shared a public reconciliation. As of mid‑2025, neither has indicated any thaw, and they do not appear together in tour events or media appearances (Sports Illustrated).
For fans who watched McIlroy and Mickelson as generational rivals, the personal divide mirrors the larger rift in professional golf — and it shows no sign of healing.
The pattern: Their feud is a personal reflection of the sport’s institutional split.
How is Phil Mickelson a billionaire?
Despite frequent media labels, Forbes estimates Phil Mickelson’s net worth at $400 million, not $1 billion (Forbes). His wealth comes from several streams:
- Career earnings: about $96 million in PGA Tour prize money (PGA Tour)
- LIV Golf contract: reportedly $200 million for signing (Wall Street Journal)
- Endorsements: Callaway, KPMG, Rolex, and others — though several dropped him after the 2022 controversy
- Investments and gambling: his autobiography describes significant gambling wins and losses (ESPN)
The billionaire label persists in headlines, but the data shows he is a very high‑earning athlete rather than a nine‑figure billionaire.
Timeline
The timeline below shows the key events in Mickelson’s career, from his early success to the recent allegations.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1970 | Born in San Diego, California (PGA Tour) |
| 1992 | Won the Masters as an amateur (Masters) |
| 2004 | First major professional win at the Masters (PGA Tour) |
| 2008–2010 | Diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis (Arthritis Foundation) |
| 2021 | Won PGA Championship; oldest major winner at age 50 (PGA Tour) |
| February 2022 | Comments to Alan Shipnuck published; later apologizes (Golf Digest) |
| June 2022 | Joined LIV Golf, debuts at London event (LIV Golf) |
| June 2026 | Skratch publishes allegations of misconduct (USA Today) |
What this means: The timeline shows a clear arc from amateur success to professional dominance, then a sharp turn toward controversy and a breakaway tour.
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Mickelson has psoriatic arthritis (Arthritis Foundation)
- He won six major championships (PGA Tour)
- He signed with LIV Golf in 2022 (LIV Golf)
What’s unclear
- Whether his net worth reaches $1 billion (Forbes says $400 million)
- Full scope of alleged misconduct incidents
- Current status of relationship with Rory McIlroy
- The long-term impact of his 2022 comments on his legacy
The pattern: The gap between confirmed facts and unclear allegations is where the public debate will continue to play out.
Quotes and perspectives
“Mickelson’s comments about the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia were explosive and left the golf world divided.”
— Alan Shipnuck, writer
“The Skratch article, citing 19 anonymous sources, described a pattern of lewd language and unwanted advances at private clubs.”
— Skratch report (as summarized by Chicago Tribune)
“Rory McIlroy called Mickelson’s LIV move ‘selfish’ and said it was damaging to the sport.”
The catch: These quotes capture the three key voices in the Mickelson story — the journalist who broke the story, the anonymous sources, and the rival player.
What it all means
The real story of Phil Mickelson in 2024–2026 is a collision between legacy and liability. His on‑course achievements — six majors, a historic PGA Championship at age 50 — are undisputed. But the controversies that followed have reshaped his public identity: from beloved underdog to polarizing figure facing serious allegations. For LIV Golf, which invested tens of millions in him, the reputational risk is growing. For Mickelson, the choice is clear: a legal defense, continued play on the breakaway tour, and a legacy that now depends heavily on how the courts and public opinion sort out this newest chapter.
golfweek.usatoday.com, reddit.com, livgolf.com, espn.com, facebook.com, dailyclubgolf.com
For those following his career, this article on his health provides a comprehensive look at his health and controversies.
Frequently asked questions
Did Phil Mickelson retire from golf?
No. He still plays in LIV Golf events and major championships. He has not played on the PGA Tour since 2022.
What treatment does Phil Mickelson use for psoriatic arthritis?
He uses Enbrel (a biologic) and adjusts his diet and training to manage symptoms. He has spoken about the condition publicly.
How much did Phil Mickelson make from LIV Golf?
Reports put his signing contract at $200 million (Wall Street Journal).
Is Phil Mickelson banned from the PGA Tour?
He resigned his membership after joining LIV Golf. The PGA Tour has not issued a lifetime ban, but he has no path to play in regular tour events under current rules.
What did Phil Mickelson say about the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia?
In a 2022 interview with Alan Shipnuck, he called the PGA Tour’s model “obnoxious” and referred to Saudi Arabia as “scary motherf—ers,” adding that he was willing to overlook human‑rights issues for leverage.
Who is Phil Mickelson’s best friend on the golf tour?
He has long been close with fellow professional Rickie Fowler, but no single player is publicly identified as his closest friend.
Has Phil Mickelson won the U.S. Open?
No. He has finished runner‑up six times, the most second‑place finishes in U.S. Open history without a win.
Daniel Harper is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Pulse, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.