NEW YORK — Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson checked himself into an addiction treatment facility earlier this year for "family trauma and addiction" and has since left following treatment, according to a statement from his representatives. The 56-year-old, reported by TMZ and People to have entered the facility this year, has played in just one event all year — LIV Golf South Africa — and missed all four majors for the first time since 1989.
Mickelson cited a "family health matter" as the reason for his absence from the major championships, with similar wording when the three-time Masters champion released a rare statement saying he would not be playing at Augusta National this year, describing it as a "personal health matter." At the time, his team said, "Phil continues to attend to a family health matter and is uncertain when he will be able to return to professional golf."
It has been a difficult year off the course as well. Reports in June said Mickelson was kicked out of his long-term Rancho Santa Fe club, The Farms, after Golf Digest reported allegations of inappropriate contact with a female employee — allegations denied by Mickelson's team. A spokesman said "any misunderstanding has been cleared up," while attorney Tom Clare said the allegations could be "squarely contradicted by objective, video evidence." Pat Perez's ex-wife Ashley later made public allegations about Mickelson's behavior to Alan Shipnuck. Mickelson's attorney responded that "Mr Mickelson's willingness to apologise for his conduct should not be misconstrued as an admission of every allegation made against him," adding "Recovery is not a straight line" and that with the full support of his wife Amy — "Throughout their 35-year relationship, his wife, Amy Mickelson, has supported Mr. Mickelson and their family with extraordinary grace, unwavering love and the belief that people are measured not only by their failures, but by what they do to make them right" — his priority is to "become the husband, father, and man his family deserves." The statement added: "Right now, that means giving his full attention to a private family health matter. He understands that parts of his life are public, but his family's private matters are not."
Mickelson has spoken publicly in the past about his gambling addiction and receiving treatment. "I crossed the line of moderation and into addiction which isn't any fun at all," he wrote on X in 2023. "After many years of receiving professional help, not gambling, and being in recovery from my addictions, I'm now able to sit still, be present in the moment and live each day with an inner calm and peace," he added, noting "I still have a lot of cleaning up to do with those I love the most, but I'm doing it slowly and as best I can." When and where he will return to competitive golf remains uncertain amid ongoing doubts around LIV Golf.