Phil Mickelson showed Pat Perez’s wife ‘offensive’ pic, book alleges

June 19, 2023 |
7:13pm

A biography on golfer Phil Mickelson includes a new afterword.AP

One possible reason behind veteran pro golfer Pat Perez’s legendary “hate” towards PGA legend Phil Mickelson has been revealed in a new afterword to author Alan Shipnuck’s Mickelson biography.

Shipnuck alleges in the newly published passages in his best-seller “Phil” that Mickelson once showed Perez’s wife an “offensive” picture.

According to the book, Mickelson had invited Perez and his wife, Ashley, to dinner at Liberty National Golf Course, in New Jersey, during the 2015 Barclays tournament.

The book says, “As the story goes, when Pat excused himself to use the restroom during dinner, Mickelson whipped out his phone to allegedly show her a photograph of himself that she found offensive.”

The book alleges, “Mickelson whipped out his phone to allegedly show her a photograph of himself that she found offensive.”Getty Images

Perez declined to comment to the Post. According to the book, when he was reached for comment in December 2022, Perez said, “It’s a matter between us. We handled it.”

Mickelson declined to comment.

Mickelson’s agent, Steve Loy, and Perez’s agent at the time, Jeff Koski — both of whom allege they were present at the dinner — claim that Shipnuck’s account is “absolutely untrue,” according to Mickelson’s attorney.

In November 2022, Perez said on the “Son of a Butch” podcast: “When it comes to Phil, I have a different hate for Phil than most people… Phil crossed the line with me that is just uncrossable and unforgivable.”

He further said that Mickelson had apologized.

The allegation is published in the latest edition of Alan Shipnuck’s best-seller “Phil.” Simon & Schuster

“He knows that he screwed up,” Perez said. “He apologized for the action, but I cannot forgive him for it because I’ve known Phil for a long, long time. I’ve known the guy forever. And the fact that when he made this action, not only was it — he had intentions of doing it; he knew it was going to happen before it happened and when he did it — I was hurt, for one. I was like, ‘How can this guy do this?’”

It is not clear whether Perez was referring to the alleged photo incident here, or something else. Either way, Perez’s statements on the podcast fueled much discussion among fans online.

Pat Perez and his wife Ashley attend a LIV Golf welcome party event last summer.via Getty Images

Pat Perez, shown here with wife Ashley, has publicly said, “Phil crossed the line with me that is just uncrossable and unforgivable.”Icon Sportswire via Getty Images