Phil Mickelson is facing allegations of 'sinister' mind games at the first LIV Golf event in 2022.
## What happened at LIV Golf's inaugural event?
Mickelson made his first public appearance after controversy surrounding comments he made to author Alan Shipnuck about Saudi Arabia and LIV Golf.
He attempted to project remorse, quoting Mickelson as saying: “I’ve said and done a lot of things that I regret.
Journalist Kevin Van Valkenburg wrote that two men approached him on behalf of Mickelson while he was covering the pro-am event.
The men told him, “Phil just wanted you to know how much he enjoys your work and how much he respects you.
## Why it matters for Phil Mickelson
Van Valkenburg admitted the interaction initially left an impression on him, but he later concluded that Mickelson’s actions were strategic rather than personal.
Reflecting on the experience, he wrote: “He is playing me, just like he’s played people for years.”
Golf Digest’s Joel Beall reported that a female club employee accused Mickelson of making “nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact” before a round of golf earlier this year.
## What comes next for Phil Mickelson?
The Farms Golf Club later issued a statement saying: “Following a staff member report of member misconduct, the Club provided immediate and ongoing support to the staff member, conducted a thorough independent investigation of the incident and took decisive action.
Mickelson’s representatives disputed aspects of the reporting, with a spokesperson telling Golf Digest: “Any misunderstanding has been cleared up.
Attorney Tom Clare also stated: “There is a great deal of misinformation circulating and, while Phil’s full attention is devoted to a private family health matter, he has retained defamation counsel.
As of the 2022 LIV Golf event, Mickelson had been away from competitive golf while dealing with what his representatives described as a family health matter, and he will not compete in this week’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills