Golf superstar Phil Mickelson finds himself at the center of a fresh and deeply disturbing controversy following detailed allegations from Ashley Perez, the ex-wife of fellow professional golfer Pat Perez.
Ashley Perez has come forward, explicitly accusing Mickelson of showing her a full-body nude photo of himself and making an inappropriate sexual proposition during the 2015 Barclays tournament.
The revelations, reported by journalist Alan Shipnuck on June 26, 2026, via Skratch, shed light on an incident that has reportedly been an ‘urban legend’ within PGA Tour circles for years and allegedly fractured the friendship between Mickelson and Pat Perez.
The Alleged Incident Unfolds
According to Ashley Perez’s account, the alleged incident took place in 2015. While The Barclays tournament was held at Plainfield Country Club in Edison, New Jersey, Mickelson had arranged for Ashley and Pat Perez to stay at his expansive villa at Liberty National Golf Course, a short distance away. One evening, while the three were drinking red wine on the patio of Mickelson’s villa, Pat Perez briefly excused himself to use the restroom.
Ashley Perez alleges that it was at this moment Mickelson seized the opportunity, pulling out his phone to show her a full-body naked photo of himself, reportedly with an erection and flexing his bicep. Following this, she claims Mickelson propositioned her, stating, ‘I’m going to leave my bedroom door open tonight. When Pat falls asleep, I want you to come see me’.
Ashley Perez reportedly did not immediately inform her then-husband, Pat, to avoid disrupting his focus during the tournament. However, she shared the details with him after the competition concluded. Pat Perez later alluded to an ‘uncrossable and unforgivable’ line Mickelson had crossed during a 2022 appearance on Claude Harmon III’s ‘Son of a Butch’ podcast, without specifying the nature of the act.
Mickelson’s Response and Broader Allegations
Mickelson has reportedly apologized to Pat and Ashley Perez on multiple occasions, including a 26-minute phone call. During this call, he purportedly alternated between expressing contrition and claiming not to remember the specifics of the night, at one point questioning if Pat meant ‘topless’ when referring to a ‘naked photo’.
In response to these and other recent allegations of sexual misconduct, Mickelson’s legal representative, Tom Clare, issued a statement. Clare asserted that ‘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’. This incident adds to a series of recent reports concerning Mickelson’s conduct, including alleged abrupt departures from exclusive golf clubs due to personal behavior. Ashley Perez has stated her motivation for speaking out is to empower other women to share their truths in a culture of silence surrounding powerful figures.
This breaking story is developing, and its long-term impact on Phil Mickelson’s already complex public image and career remains to be seen. The golf world will undoubtedly be watching closely for further statements or developments regarding these serious accusations.