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Earlier this month, Skratch published a story accusing Phil Mickelson of showing a nude photo of himself to a fellow golfer’s wife amid other original reports that he had been kicked out of a golf club for alleged misconduct with a female employee.
The five-time major champion brought in defamation lawyers to dispel the “false rumours” about his golf club departure, which turned out to be his own voluntary resignation.
Days later, however, the Skratch story spoke to Ashley Perez, the ex-wife of professional golfer Pat, who said Mickelson showed her a picture of himself naked with an erection and flexing his bicep and said she could come to his bedroom after her then-husband fell asleep. Skratch also interviewed other sources for his story that hinted at potential infidelity by Mickelson amid sudden membership terminations 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, Ill.
However, a representative for Mickelson said the reporter may be notorious for a “drive-by shooting” style of “anonymously sourced” stories.
“The clear implication (of the story) is that Mr. Mickelson was forced out of several golf clubs. He was not. Mr. Mickelson has never been banned from a golf club. His membership has never been revoked by a golf club,” the statement said.
The statement also ripped Shipnuck for quoting a source that Mickelson’s wife, Amy, played a role in his departure from clubs.
Phil Mickelson plays a shot from the fifth tee during day two of LIV Golf South Africa at The Club at Steyn City in Johannesburg on March 20, 2026. (Johan Rynners/Getty Images)
PHIL MICKELSON ACCUSED OF SHOWING NUDE PHOTO TO PROGOLFER’S EX-WIFE: ‘COME AND SEE ME’
“That is false. Mr. Mickelson was never forced by his wife or by any golf club to give up his membership. These decisions were his alone…” the statement said. “Instead, the source’s personal assumption about her involvement is presented as fact, and that unsubstantiated speculation has since been repeated by other media as if it were established truth. It is not.”
Mickelson’s spokeswoman also ripped Shipnuck for reporting that a source told him that Mickelson would give his phone to “a young man in the pro shop and pay him $500 to drive around the course,” so his wife would think he was playing golf while “tracking his phone” when he had his “secret meeting.”
“How does the member know all this? ‘The guy from the pro shop told me,'” the story reads.
“Shipnuck is attempting to portray a common ‘Find My’ family feature used by millions of families every day as something sinister. It wasn’t. Anonymous speculation is presented as meaningful insight when it’s 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 does confirm that he “apologizes[d] for his conduct.” However, that “should not be construed as an admission of any allegation against him,” the spokeswoman said. “Responsible journalism does not amplify the most sensational characteristic of a disputed event while minimizing the fact that the allegation itself was challenged.”
The statement also warned of potential “corporate” bias, as Skratch was founded by the PGA Tour and Mickelson has since defected to LIV Golf.
“Together, these reporting errors reveal an article that prioritizes a compelling, click-bait narrative over an accurate one. Anonymous speculation is elevated above first-hand knowledge. Implication is used where facts fall short. Private family members are falsely dragged into public narratives without evidence. Context that undermines sensational claims, the actual conclusions are left as the statements themselves are read, the statements themselves are never left to conclude.
Phil Mickelson plays a shot from the fifth tee during day two of LIV Golf South Africa at The Club at Steyn City in Johannesburg on March 20, 2026. (Johan Rynners/Getty Images)
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“Credibility is not achieved by publishing the most provocative narrative. It is achieved through transparency, verification and a clear distinction between fact, inference and speculation. These standards protect readers as much as they protect the people being written about. Readers should demand more. Journalism should too.”
Mickelson has played in just one LIV event this year and no majors as he attends to a “personal health issue.”
