Law enforcement is involved after the pro golfer Phil Mickelson is accused of inappropriately touching a female employee at a prestigious golf course in California.
A spokesperson for the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement The New York Post on Thursday, June 11, that authorities “made efforts to find any evidence to support possible allegations of sexual abuse.”
“Currently, we have not found any evidence that there was an assault,” the statement continued. “The Sheriff’s Office will investigate further if they provide additional evidence or information. We encourage anyone with information about an incident like this to contact the Sheriff’s Office.”
Mickelson, 55, is accused of having unwanted and inappropriate contact with an employee at The Farms Golf Club, outside San Diego, in a news release Golf Digest on Thursday.
“Mickelson took a female employee to the clubhouse where she touched him inappropriately,” the report said. “The employee refused his compensation.”
The incident allegedly happened earlier this year when Mickelson was at the club playing golf. The woman brought the allegations to her supervisors, who immediately began a “review and investigation” and confronted Mickelson in a lecture about the allegations.
“After that confrontation, [Mickelson] he was told to leave the grounds,” said the report, revealing that the six-time champion did that.
“The Farms Golf Club is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful and ethical golf club environment,” the club said in a statement. Golf Digest. “All members are required to follow our Code of Conduct, and any allegations of misconduct are taken seriously. Following a staff report of member misconduct, the Club provided immediate and ongoing support to staff, conducted a thorough independent investigation into the incident and took decisive action. This individual is no longer a member of The Farms Golf Club.”
The statement continued, “Farms conducts a thorough review of all reported issues in accordance with California Law and takes appropriate action if necessary, consistent with our commitment to integrity, excellence and accountability. To protect the safety and privacy of our employees and members, we cannot comment further on this matter. Thank you for your understanding.”
Golf Digest reported that multiple sources told them that the person in the investigation center was Mickelson.
“Any misunderstandings have been resolved,” Mickelson’s spokesman told reporters. “Phil continues to attend to a family health issue and is unsure when he will be able to return to professional golf.”
Mickelson has missed several tournaments this year, citing personal reasons.
“Unfortunately, I will not be playing in the Masters Tournament next week and will be out for a long time as my family continues to deal with a personal health issue,” he shared on Instagram on April 2. “I have a lot of respect for Augusta National Golf Club and it’s definitely the most special week of the year.”
