Explosive allegations of harassment and infidelity threaten to overshadow a legendary career as "Lefty" faces a reckoning that mirrors the turbulent personal history of his greatest rival.
Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer of his generation. Phil Mickelson is the second greatest golfer of the same generation.
Woods' lore will always include the personal problems that continue to plague him at a time when, at age ..., he should be a classy ambassador for the sport.
And Mickelson's lore? He essentially just told Tiger, "Hold my beer.''
Mickelson, 56, was affectionately known as "Lefty'' during his impressive PGA reign. He won 45 tournaments (eighth all-time) and six majors and finished second in six more.
His biggest obstacle to further greatness? Woods, who won 82 tournaments and 15 majors.
But now? Mickelson's biggest obstacle is himself.
Mickelson is now making a habit of getting kicked out of his "home clubs,'' while also making an alleged habit of assaulting women while hanging around the courses.
Golf writer Alan Shipnuck, in a Skratch Golf investigation published June 26, details a 2015 incident in which Mickelson allegedly showed Ashley Perez, then married to golfer Pat Perez, an explicit photo of himself on his phone before inviting her to his room later that night.
A second woman also came forward, describing an alleged dinner-party incident during which Mickelson graphically propositioned her in front of other guests.
And most recently comes an accusation of non-consensual physical contact with a young staff member, prompting club officials to confront Mickelson mid-round and remove him from the property.
Mickelson also allegedly kept a private "bachelor pad'' condo inside one clubhouse that the golfer "to entertain female overnight guests while his wife, Amy Mickelson, was rarely on the property,'' as Heavy writes.
At another club, Mickelson allegedly paid a cart attendant $500 to drive his phone around the course for hours at a time, a trick designed to make his wife and others - via a location tracker - show him playing golf while he was actually spending time with women.
Through a spokesperson, Mickelson issued a 738-word statement disputing some of these stories.
But in the golf world? Where there is smoke there is misbehavioral fire ... and in the end, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods will likely be linked together forever - and not just because of their excellence on the course.
