![\"Phil](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/liv-golf-virginia-day-one-gainesville-virginia-june-06-phil-e1782782454991.jpg\")
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GAINESVILLE, VIRGINIA – JUNE 06: Phil Mickelson of HyFlyers GC tees off at the 12th tee on day one of LIV Golf Virginia at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on June 06, 2025 in Gainesville, Virginia. (Photo by Alex Goodlett\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Few modern golf writers<\/a> have accomplished more than Alan Shipnuck, but his recent reporting about Phil Mickelson<\/a> could end up being his most important work.<\/p>\n Shipnuck, who wrote a biography about Mickelson<\/a> in 2022, recently penned a bombshell report<\/a> for Skratch, outlining multiple allegations of unwanted sexual advances against Mickelson. Shipnuck has defended his reporting since the story dropped, and he revealed his motivation for chasing the story so hard.<\/p>\n Phil Mickelson Controversy: Alan Shipnuck Reveals Motivation for Report<\/p>\n \u201cAt least a half-dozen people whom I interviewed for this said something to the effect of \u2018Someone has to stop this guy, he\u2019s just gonna keep harming people,’\u201d Shipunck told golf reporter Dan Rapoport on the \u201cDan on Golf\u201d podcast<\/a>. \u201cThat resonated with me. So I felt there was an obligation to tell this story almost as a bit of public service, really.\u201d<\/p>\n Shipnuck\u2019s report came just a couple of weeks after Golf Digest reported Mickelson<\/a> lost his membership at an exclusive club near his home following allegations of inappropriate contact with a female employee at the course. On top of that, Shipnuck got Ashley Perez<\/a>, ex-wife of former Tour pro Pat Perez, to go on the record and tell the story of an unwanted sexual advance<\/a> from Mickelson.<\/p>\n Yet, some still push back against Shipnuck, claiming the story has been blown out of proportion. Shipnuck explained why he doesn\u2019t think that\u2019s the case.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s definitely a strain of readers who say a) he\u2019s a professional athlete, he can chase girls, what\u2019s the big deal?\u201d he continued. \u201cIt\u2019s an issue of what\u2019s consensual, what\u2019s not. \u2026 it\u2019s a little different. if someone\u2019s just fooling around on the story, is that a story?\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cIn Phil\u2019s case, there\u2019s these three very exclusive private clubs where he\u2019s no longer a member, and his personal conduct was a big factor. It tells you there\u2019s a messiness there, a misbehavior that\u2019s pretty extreme.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just the totality. Each individual incident maybe doesn\u2019t warrant a story. We can debate that. When you have this lineup of misbehavior, there\u2019s an obligation to tell that story.\u201d<\/p>\n Mickelson, Shipnuck Have Plenty of History<\/p>\n Shipnuck and Mickelson have plenty of history. Back in 2022, Shipnuck\u2019s reporting was at least partially to blame for potentially blowing up LIV before it even really got off the ground.<\/p>\n As part of the book promotion, Shipnuck released an excerpt from the book in which he detailed a conversation with Mickelson about the complicated dynamic with the Saudis as part of the LIV launch. Mickelson infamously called the Saudis \u201cscary motherf\u2014\u2014\u201d on the phone with Shipnuck.<\/p>\n Mickelson ultimately made things right \u2014 or passable, at least \u2014 and the league launched with the golf legend as the face of the renegade tour.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Shipnuck\u2019s book didn\u2019t paint Mickelson in a favorable light. Shipnuck\u2019s legwork for the book undoubtedly helped pave the way for the in-depth reporting for this most recent story, too.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve written so many flattering stories about Phil, and the book was very balanced,\u201d Shipnuck insisted on the podcast with Rapoport, \u201cbut that\u2019s not how he sees it.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMike Cole<\/a> Mike Cole covers golf as well as the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans for Heavy.com. He previously worked at NESN where he covered Boston sports (and much more) for 15 years. 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