Phil Mickelson was winding down his season when a fresh controversy landed squarely in his lap.
The six-time major winner, who’s no stranger to headlines both on and off the course, found himself accused of leaking insider information about a Houston-based offshore oil startup, Sable Offshore.
Per Hunterbrook, Mickelson received material non-public information and shared it in a private group chat on X with investors.
The LIV Golf pro didn’t wait long to respond. Days after the story broke, he took to X to announce that he’s retained high-profile defamation attorney Tom Clare to “advise and represent” him in the matter.
Clare is known for representing public figures in high-stakes media battles, including clients like Dominion Voting Systems and NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson.
“I know from experience that being in the public eye makes me a frequent target for sensationalized media coverage,” Mickelson posted on X. “I get that it comes with the territory, but there are legal limits on false reports. And while I may have been willing to ‘let it go’ in the past, I’m no longer going to sit quietly and take it when those lines are crossed.”
“More to come….Lots,” the 55-year-old added.
Mickelson’s post happened to be public just hours after “Pablo Torre Finds Out” aired an episode with Sam Koppelman, one of the people who helped write the Hunterbrook report.
The episode looked at the leaked messages and Mickelson’s alleged role in passing along sensitive information from Sable Offshore CEO Jim Flores. According to Hunterbrook, Flores had informed select investors, including Mickelson, about a pending $200 million equity raise, which had not been publicly disclosed.
Mickelson, famously known as Lefty, has since pushed back hard, replying to social media posts from Hunterbrook, Torre and others.
“So a company says I can’t say anything to you but we will announce something at the close,” he posted on X. “I don’t know if it’s a dilution and the stock goes down or a deal for the stock to go up. I have to wait to see what the info is, I make no trades whatsoever and am ultra ultra careful given past history. I don’t even share that information is coming til after the close.”
He even brought the focus back to Hunterbrook, questioning its own practices and accusing the outlet of manipulating the market. “This looks like stock manipulation on their part and slanderous,” Lefty posted on X. “Did they make any trades today?”
Mickelson’s reference to “past history” likely alludes to his 2016 involvement in an insider trading case tied to Dean Foods. Though he wasn’t charged, the SEC labeled him a “relief defendant,” and he returned over $1 million in profits.
That episode left a lasting mark on his reputation, and this time, he appears determined to fight back.
More Golf: Rory McIlroy Avoids Penalty Stroke By Seconds at UAE Event