Phil Mickelson’s Controversial Comments About SGL Surfaces Amid Misconduct Claims By Ashley Perez

Golfer, Phil Mickelson is currently hogging the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The six-time Major championship winner has found himself in the headlines following bombshell allegations levied against him by a woman. For those unaware, at the beginning of June 2026, an unidentified woman accused Phil of inappropriate behaviour towards her. Soon after this, Pat Perez’s ex-wife, Ashley Perez, also alleged misconduct by Phil. Amid the buzz, Phil Mickelson’s controversial comments about a Saudi-backed golf league have surfaced. 

Phil Mickelson faced backlash for his controversial comments about a Saudi-backed golf league 

Before Phil Mickelson’s recent controversy involving his inappropriate behaviour, he had faced a lot of backlash over comments made about the Super Golf League. For those who don’t know, it is a breakaway league that wants to lure players away from the world’s premier professional golf organisations, including the PGA Tour. The league is reportedly backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. Phil Mickelson was one of the most high-profile golfers who had openly shown his support for the SGL since details of it first became public years ago. However, during an interview with golf writer, Alan Shipnuck, he shocked all of his fans. He said:

“We know they killed [Washington Post reporter and U.S. resident Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates.”

During the interview, Phil criticised the way that the PGA Tour compensates its players. The association reportedly controls the media rights of each player. Meanwhile, its prize structure flattens winnings between the high-profile star golfers and those who are lesser-known and rank towards the bottom. Phil added: 

“The Saudi money has finally given us that leverage. I’m not sure I even want [the SGL] to succeed, but just the idea of it is allowing us to get things done with the [PGA] Tour.”

After facing tremendous backlash, Phil was forced to apologise for his comments. He said that it was reckless of him and if he offended people, he was “deeply sorry for my choice of words.” While he said that he “used words that I sincerely regret,” Phil also suggested that his words were taken “out of context” and that his interview had been off the record. It is worth noting that Alan Shipnuck refuted the golfer’s claim, calling it “false and duplicitous.” 

What are the allegations levied by Pat Perez’s ex-wife, Ashley Perez, against Phil Mickelson?

The incident that led to the controversy reportedly happened in 2015 during the week of the Barclays tournament at the Plainfield Country Club in Edison, New Jersey. Ashley Perez, Pat Perez’s ex-wife, revealed that at the time she, her then-husband, and Phil were staying at a luxurious villa where they were drinking together. While they were initially having a fun time, things took a turn for the worse when Phil made unwanted advances towards Ashley. Ashley claimed that when Pat went to use the restroom, Phil took the opportunity to show her a bare body image of himself, which was taken when he was aroused. 

Phil made Ashley even more uncomfortable when he not only flexed the photo to her but also followed it up with a lewd offer. He allegedly told her that he would keep his bedroom door open that night, and after Pat fell asleep, Ashley should come and see him. When Ashley later told Pat about what happened, he never forgave the golfer, even though Phil apologised to them. 

Photos Credit: Phil Mickelson/IG, PGA Tour/Website

What are your thoughts on Phil Mickelson’s controversial comments about the Saudi-backed Super Golf League amid his facing misconduct allegations? Let us know. 

Also read: Meet Phil Mickelson’s Kids As He Breaks Silence On Allegations Of Showing Lewd Pic To Ashley Perez