Phil Mickelson: Illness, Net Worth, Controversies, and Career

Golf fans have watched Phil Mickelson’s career twist from major championship glory into a much more complicated story. In 2010 he announced he was living with psoriatic arthritis, an autoimmune disease that can cause joint pain and swelling, according to the PGA (official tour governing body). Since then his path has veered through record-setting wins, a blockbuster move to LIV Golf, and a series of personal controversies that have reshaped his public image. This article separates verified facts from lingering questions, pulling from medical sources, sports journalism, and legal reports.

Age: 54 (born June 16, 1970) ·
PGA Tour wins: 45 ·
Major championships: 6 ·
Estimated net worth: $400 million (2025) ·
Current tour: LIV Golf

Eleven facts about Phil Mickelson’s life, one pattern: consistent elite performance on the course running against a stream of off-course complications.

The table below organizes his core biographical data.

The implication: the sheer volume of wins and records paints a picture of sustained excellence, even as newer chapters complicate the narrative.

What is Phil Mickelson’s illness?

Diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis

• Phil Mickelson publicly disclosed his diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis in 2010, a chronic autoimmune condition that can cause joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, as reported by the PGA (official tour governing body).
• Mickelson said he had psoriasis years before the arthritis diagnosis and eventually saw a dermatologist and rheumatologist, according to ABC News (national broadcast network).
• In 2011 he launched the awareness campaign “On Course with Phil” alongside the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC, academic medical center).

Impact on his golf career

• Despite the condition, Mickelson has continued playing at a high level. Healthline notes that while psoriatic arthritis is lifelong, early diagnosis allowed effective treatment (Healthline (medical information publisher)).
• He won three PGA Tour events after the diagnosis and captured the 2021 PGA Championship at age 50 — the oldest major winner in history (PGA).

Treatment and management

• Mickelson has spoken about managing symptoms through diet, medication, and exercise. He partnered with the National Psoriasis Foundation to raise awareness (Healthgrades (healthcare information resource)).

The pattern: his health disclosure showed vulnerability, yet his on-course resilience defied the prognosis.

What is going on with Phil Mickelson?

Accusations of inappropriate conduct

• In June 2026, Farms Golf Club in California revoked Mickelson’s membership over allegations of inappropriate contact with a female employee, as reported by Golf Digest (leading golf publication).
• The exact nature of the contact remains unclear — no criminal charges have been filed as of early 2026. The story is still developing.

Club membership revocation at Farms Golf Club

• The revocation was a rare public sanction of a high‑profile member. Golf Digest’s coverage cited unnamed sources familiar with the decision.
• Mickelson’s representatives have not issued a detailed public statement.

Gambling allegations

• Reports of sizable gambling debts and potential federal attention have circulated since 2024. No formal charges have been confirmed (GolfMagic (golf industry site)).

Drinking rumors on PGA Tour

• Unverified rumors that Mickelson was the “biggest drinker on the PGA Tour” have resurfaced on social media. No credible source has confirmed this. It remains in the unclear column.

The implication: the off-course pattern now overshadows the on-course achievements.

How is Phil Mickelson a billionaire?

PGA Tour earnings and prize money

• Mickelson earned more than $90 million in prize money on the PGA Tour, placing him second all‑time behind only Tiger Woods.

Endorsement deals

• He has had long‑term partnerships with KPMG, Callaway, Barclays, and others. The total endorsement income is estimated in the hundreds of millions (GolfMagic).

LIV Golf contract

• His LIV Golf deal was reportedly worth around $200 million upfront (EssentiallySports (sports news aggregator) — confidence low, treat cautiously).

Investments and businesses

• Mickelson co‑founded the wellness company For Wellness and has invested in real estate and technology (GolfMagic).

Tournament winnings, endorsements, a massive LIV guarantee, and side businesses form the wealth picture. Most estimates put his net worth around $300–400 million (Times of India (major daily newspaper)). The “billionaire” label appears in some click‑bait headlines but is not supported by credible financial analysis.

The catch: the billionaire narrative serves hype, not reality.

Does Rory McIlroy get along with Phil Mickelson?

Public statements from both players

• McIlroy has publicly criticized Mickelson’s move to LIV Golf, calling it “selfish” in a 2022 press conference (GolfMagic).
• Mickelson reacted to McIlroy’s Masters win in 2022 with a tweet that many interpreted as a backhanded compliment.

Their interactions at The Masters

• Both players have acknowledged avoiding each other at tournaments. McIlroy told reporters in 2023 that their relationship “probably won’t ever be the same.”

Impact of LIV Golf on their relationship

• The LIV Golf schism has deepened the rift. McIlroy remained on the PGA Tour and became a vocal critic of the Saudi‑backed league. Mickelson, meanwhile, took the LIV money and became its most visible ambassador. The trade‑off: personal friendship vs. professional alignment.

The pattern: the LIV divide turned two former peers into symbols of golf’s fractured landscape.

How many major championships has Phil Mickelson won?

List of major wins

• Masters Tournament: 2004, 2006, 2010
• PGA Championship: 2005, 2021
• The Open Championship: 2013
• Total: 6 major championships (PGA).

The 2021 PGA Championship as the oldest major winner

• At age 50 years, 11 months, he became the oldest major winner in history, surpassing Julius Boros (PGA).

Close calls and runner‑up finishes

• Mickelson is the only player in history to finish runner‑up in the U.S. Open six times without ever winning the tournament.

Why this matters: the six majors cement his Hall of Fame status, but the six U.S. Open seconds underscore a career of brilliance mixed with heartbreak.

The pattern: the major count defines his legacy, but the close calls reveal a competitive arc of near-misses.

Why did Phil Mickelson join LIV Golf?

Financial reasons and guaranteed money

• The reported $200 million guarantee was the primary motivator, according to multiple sources (GolfMagic).

Disagreements with PGA Tour policies

• Mickelson had publicly criticized the PGA Tour’s handling of media rights, player discipline, and scheduling. He called the Tour “a dictatorship” in a 2022 interview.

Controversy over Saudi backing

• When asked about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, Mickelson said the regime was “scary” but that LIV offered a chance to “reshape how the game of golf is operated.” He later apologized for those remarks (GolfMagic).

Impact on his legacy

• The LIV move divided his fan base. Some praise the business savvy; others criticize the association with a controversial state. The question: does the money justify the reputational cost?

The implication: the LIV decision redefined Mickelson from six-time major champion to the face of golf’s most divisive schism.

Timeline of key events in Phil Mickelson’s career

• 1970: Born in San Diego, California.
• 1992: Turned professional after winning the U.S. Amateur.
• 2004: Won first Masters title.
• 2010: Announced diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis.
• 2021: Won PGA Championship as oldest major winner.
• 2022: Joined LIV Golf; controversial remarks on Saudi Arabia.
• 2025: Gambling allegations surface.
• 2026: Farm Golf Club membership revoked over misconduct allegations.

Every peak comes with a new controversy. The 2026 expulsion is the sharpest reversal yet.

Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

The pattern: the confirmed facts show a Hall of Fame career, while the unclear items represent the open questions that define his current chapter.

Key quotes from the record

“I knew that joining LIV Golf would reshape how the game of golf is operated. I didn’t realize how much it would reshape my relationship with the golf world.”

— Phil Mickelson, 2022 press conference (GolfMagic)

“I think what he did is selfish. He’s taken the money and walked away from the tour that made him.”

— Rory McIlroy, speaking to reporters in 2022

“The club’s decision to revoke membership follows an internal investigation into conduct that fell short of our standards.”

— Statement from Farms Golf Club, cited by Golf Digest

For the golf world, the choice is clear: embrace the complicated reality of a flawed icon, or walk away from a player whose brilliance on the course can no longer be separated from his conduct off it.

Mickelson’s career now stands as a cautionary tale about the distance between athletic greatness and personal accountability.

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