LOS ANGELES – Phil Mickelson has spent more than three decades making headlines for his wizardry on the golf course. In 2026, he made headlines for something else entirely: his absence.
The six-time major champion has played just one competitive round all year. He skipped every major championship for the first time since 1989. And now, his representatives have confirmed what many suspected: Mickelson checked himself into a treatment facility earlier this year, seeking help for “family trauma and addiction.”
It’s a stunning turn for one of the most recognizable figures in golf, a player who built a Hall of Fame career on daring shots and a relentless smile. This is the story of what happened.
The Silence Began in February
The first sign that something was wrong came on February 1, when Mickelson announced he would miss the opening two LIV Golf events of the season.
“I will not be able to participate in the first two LIV events as Amy and I need to be present for a family health matter,” he said at the time. “I can’t wait to compete again and look forward to rejoining my teammates as soon as possible.”
That “family health matter” would stretch from two events to four, then to the entire season.
A Brief Return, Then a Disappearance
Mickelson made his only competitive appearance of 2026 in March at LIV Golf South Africa, finishing tied for 48th at 7-under par. It was a quiet return for a player who had showed genuine optimism about the season just weeks earlier.
“I started to play well,” he said in January. “Had a couple of good chances, which was exciting and motivating for me. I’ve very optimistic and excited what the year may bring.”
Instead, the year brought something else entirely.
In April, Mickelson withdrew from the Masters and announced he would be “out for an extended period of time as my family continues to navigate a personal health matter.” He never returned to competition. He missed the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and the Open Championship. It was the first time since 1989 that he failed to play in any major.
The Allegations That Changed the Narrative
As Mickelson remained silent, reports began to surface about why.
In June, Golf Digest reported that a female staff member at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California, had accused Mickelson of “nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact.” Mickelson resigned from the club, where he had been a longtime member.
His attorney, Tom Clare, vehemently denied the allegations, calling the report a “drive-by shooting” and claiming video evidence contradicted the account. In a statement, a Mickelson spokesperson said: “Any misunderstanding has been cleared up. Phil continues to attend to a family health matter and is uncertain when he will be able to return to professional golf.”
Weeks later, more allegations emerged. Veteran golf journalist Alan Shipnuck reported that Ashley Perez, the ex-wife of fellow golfer Pat Perez, claimed Mickelson had shown her an explicit photograph of himself and propositioned her during a 2015 event. Mickelson’s representatives again disputed the accounts, describing them as part of “a compelling, click-bait narrative over an accurate one.”
The Treatment Facility
Then, on September 29, TMZ Sports broke the news that Mickelson had checked himself into a facility specializing in trauma and addiction.
“Phil was seeking treatment for family trauma and addiction,” a representative told the outlet. Mickelson entered voluntarily and has since left the facility.
The confirmation came months after Mickelson’s team had said his priority was “to become the husband, father, and man his family deserves.” It also followed years of public acknowledgment from Mickelson about his struggles with gambling.
In 2023, he admitted on Instagram that he had “crossed the line of moderation and into addiction.” He said the money was never the issue, but that gambling had caused “a lot of harm” to those he loved.
“The money wasn’t ever the issue,” he said. “Since our financial security has never been threatened, but I was so distracted I wasn’t able to be present with the ones I love and caused a lot of harm.”
The 2025 Warning Signs
The personal turmoil of 2026 didn’t come out of nowhere. Mickelson’s 2025 season was already a struggle.
He missed the cut in three of the four majors that year. At the Open Championship, he finished tied for 56th. Even in LIV Golf, his best finish in his final six events was tied for 23rd.
Off the course, he was making headlines for political commentary on social media and for an awkward public moment when Jack Nicklaus said he didn’t even know if Mickelson was still competing.
“I don’t know what level Phil is competing at,” Nicklaus said. “I guess he’s still playing. He’s playing the LIV Tour, is he? I don’t know if he’s playing or not.”
What’s Next for Mickelson
Mickelson’s future in professional golf is uncertain. He’s 56 years old. He hasn’t played a competitive round in months. His LIV Golf team, the HyFlyers, has been using reserve players in his absence.
But Mickelson had sounded genuinely hopeful about his game before everything fell apart. He talked about improving his accuracy off the tee, regaining his short-game touch, and competing against younger players with a different approach.
“I’m not able to maintain or keep up with the increasing speeds of the guys today,” he said. “But what I am able to do is hit all the shots, and if I can drive it and keep it in play, I’m able to make a lot of birdies and hang and compete.”
For now, though, golf is on hold. The man who once thrilled fans with impossible shots from impossible lies is focused on something far more difficult: healing, and being present for the family he says he wants to deserve.
His wife Amy, who has been by his side for nearly 30 years, remains his anchor. As his team put it: “Recovery is not a straight line.”
For Phil Mickelson, the journey continues. Just not on a golf course.
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