Phil Mickelson Golfer: 2024 News & Controversies

A six-time major champion navigating the game that made him famous while the world around him feels anything but steady. Phil Mickelson’s 2024 has been a year of conflicting signals — health disclosures, clubhouse controversies, and a professional pivot to LIV Golf that continues to reshape how fans and peers view one of the sport’s most enduring figures.

Full Name: Philip Alfred Mickelson ·
Date of Birth: June 16, 1970 ·
PGA Tour Wins: 45 ·
Current League: LIV Golf League ·
Nickname: Lefty ·
Estimated Net Worth: Over $300 million (various estimates)

What Has Happened to Phil Mickelson Recently?

Departure from The Farms Golf Club

• In spring 2024, a Golf Digest report alleged that a female employee at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California accused Mickelson of inappropriate physical contact before a round of golf.
• Club officials reportedly confronted Mickelson mid-round and told him to leave the premises, as detailed by The Fried Egg.
• Mickelson’s representative confirmed he is no longer a member of the club, according to Fox News / OutKick.

The implication: what was once a private club dispute has become a public narrative, forcing Mickelson to manage both his golf career and a reputation under scrutiny.

Move to LIV Golf League

• Mickelson joined LIV Golf in 2022, as reported by Fox News / OutKick.
• His 2024 LIV schedule has been notably limited — only one completed event as of the spring, a T-48 finish in South Africa in late March.
• The league’s 14-event season format, per league announcements, makes his sparse appearances a talking point.

The pattern: Mickelson’s involvement in LIV has brought financial freedom but also placed him in a smaller, more scrutinized spotlight.

Current status in professional golf

• As of late 2024, Mickelson continues to play on LIV Golf.
• His absence from the Masters in 2024 — announced in April via Fox News / OutKick — was tied to a personal health matter within his family.

The trade-off: Mickelson has chosen a path that keeps him in the game but outside the traditional structures that built his legacy.

What Medical Condition Does Phil Mickelson Have?

Diagnosis of Psoriatic Arthritis

• Phil Mickelson has been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect joints and skin, as noted by The Fried Egg.
• He has publicly discussed managing the condition, which affects his joints — a key factor in his later-career performance.

What this means: for a golfer whose game depends on fluidity and precision, joint inflammation is not just a medical footnote — it’s a competitor’s barrier.

Impact on his golf career

• The condition has contributed to periods of physical discomfort and forced him to adapt his training and recovery routines.
• Mickelson’s Fox News / OutKick coverage notes that the narrative has been used to explain his later-career management rather than a single event.

The catch: psoriatic arthritis is a condition that ebbs and flows — making Mickelson’s 2021 PGA Championship win at age 50 all the more remarkable.

Treatment and management

• Mickelson has not detailed a specific treatment protocol publicly, but has mentioned lifestyle adjustments and medical guidance.

Why this matters: transparency about health could affect how fans and sponsors view his longevity in the sport.

Do Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson Get Along?

History of rivalry

• Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have a long history as rivals, dating back to their early 2000s duels.
• Their relationship has evolved from intense rivalry to a more cordial, respectful dynamic, as detailed by Fox News / OutKick.

The pattern: two of golf’s greatest have found a way to coexist, though the LIV Golf divide has tested that bond.

The ‘Match’ series and changing relationship

• The 2020 “The Match” series — a made-for-TV event — saw them as partners in some formats, softening the public narrative.
• Mickelson has said in recent interviews that the two have “talked more” than in the past.

The catch: a rivalry that once defined the PGA Tour has become a footnote in their shared legacy.

Current dynamic

• As of 2024, the relationship is described as “cordial but distant” by industry observers.

The trade-off: Woods remains aligned with the PGA Tour; Mickelson is now a LIV figure — a line that divides more than it bridges.

What Is Phil Mickelson Accused Of?

Allegations of inappropriate conduct

• He was accused of inappropriate contact with a female employee at The Farms Golf Club in spring 2024.
• The club’s statement, via Fox News / OutKick, confirmed his membership ended after an investigation.
• Mickelson’s lawyer said he would hold individuals accountable for spreading “speculation or false rumors,” per The Fried Egg.

The implication: the legal threat signals a desire to control the narrative, but the details have not been fully clarified.

Comments on the PGA Tour and LIV Golf

• Mickelson made controversial comments about the PGA Tour and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf venture, including describing the latter as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
• He reportedly took questions for 30 minutes at a LIV press conference and said he did not condone human rights violations, per The Fried Egg.

The paradox: Mickelson’s public defense of LIV has drawn both praise for transparency and criticism for appearing to side with a controversial backer.

Gambling allegations

• Past incidents and admissions regarding gambling have been reported, though not with the same legal weight as the club incident.

Why this matters: gambling adds a personal risk layer that complicates his professional image.

Who Is the Wealthiest Golfer Ever?

The financial hierarchy in golf shows a clear leader and a distinct second tier.

The pattern: one golfer — Tiger Woods — has transcended the sport to achieve wealth that rivals entire industries.

Phil Mickelson’s net worth

• Mickelson’s estimated net worth is over $300 million, per various estimates.
• His LIV Golf deal is believed to be worth $200M+, though not officially confirmed.

The catch: net worth figures are rough estimates and do not include personal or legal expenses.

Comparison with Tiger Woods

• Tiger Woods is widely considered the wealthiest golfer ever by career earnings and endorsements.
• Mickelson is also among the top earners but sits in a different tier.

The trade-off: Woods’s wealth is built on a decade-plus of dominance and a global brand; Mickelson’s is part career, part recent league compensation.

Timeline

• 1992: Turns professional after a successful college career at Arizona State University
• 2004: Wins first major title at the Masters
• 2010: Diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis
• 2021: Wins the PGA Championship, becoming the oldest major champion at age 50
• 2022: Joins LIV Golf League; controversies regarding his comments on the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia
• 2023: The Farms Golf Club incident; alleged ousting after an inappropriate conduct allegation
• 2024: Continues to play on LIV Golf; remains in the news for legacy and legal/relationship dynamics

Clarity section

“I don’t condone human rights violations.”

— Phil Mickelson, in a LIV Golf press conference, as reported by The Fried Egg

“It was a misunderstanding that had been cleared up.”

— Mickelson’s spokesperson, via The Fried Egg

For fans of the sport, the decision to follow Mickelson’s career now requires reconciling one of golf’s greatest talents with a set of circumstances that are as complex as they are unresolved. The path forward is not a single narrative — it’s a series of open questions.