speculation

Golf legend Phil Mickelson is refuting an accusation that he inappropriately touched a female employee at a prestigious golf club in Southern California a few months ago.

According to Golf Digest, Mickelson allegedly approached the worker at Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe and made “nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact.” After she rejected him, she reported to her supervisors and accused him of sexual misconduct.

Mickelson hired Tom Clare, a top defamation attorney, who said video evidence contradicted the allegations.

“There is a great deal of misinformation circulating and, while Phil’s full attention is devoted to a private family health matter, he has retained defamation counsel and is determined to hold accountable any publication or individual trafficking in speculation or false rumors,” Clare said in a statement to Golf Digest.

Clare did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said it investigated but found no evidence of an assault. However, the allegation resulted in the immediate removal of Mickelson from the golf grounds and revocation of his longtime membership at the club.

Farms Golf Club said in a statement to the golf magazine that it conducted a thorough investigation before confronting Mickelson and stood by its decision to end his membership. Farms also said no video cameras were in the area where the alleged misconduct occurred.

“Following a staff member report of member misconduct, the club provided immediate and ongoing support to the staff member, conducted a thorough independent investigation of the incident and took decisive action,” the statement read. “This individual is no longer a member of The Farms Golf Club.

“To protect the safety and privacy of our staff and member, we are unable to speak further on the matter.”

Mickelson, who turns 56 next week, withdrew from professional golf this year because of family health reasons, last playing at the LIV Golf South Africa in March. A married father of three, Mickelson won six major tournaments on the PGA Tour — three Masters, two PGA Championships and one British Open — before he left the tour in 2022 for the upstart LIV Golf League, which will lose the financial backing of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund this fall.

His estimated career earnings exceed $1 billion, including $97 million in PGA Tour prize money, a reported $200 million signing bonus to join LIV Golf and an estimated $800 million from endorsements and business ventures.

Mickelson was one of the most popular players on the PGA Tour before his controversial move to LIV and comments about his Saudi backers, and his career survived some unsavory headlines, several of which pertained to gambling.

The Detroit News obtained federal court records that claimed a mob-connected bookie handled bets for Mickelson and was accused of cheating the golfer out of $500,000 in 2007.

Mickelson was accused by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 2016 of getting an insider trading tip and buying $931,000 of stock from sports gambler Billy Walters. Mickelson was not charged and agreed to pay back the amount.

Federal auditors investigating Mickelson’s role in the scheme found that his gambling losses totaled more than $40 million from 2010 to 2014, according to an unauthorized biography of Mickelson.

June 12 (UPI) — Iran said it had yet to make a final decision on an agreement with the United States to end the war, despite U.S. President Donald Trump saying it was a done deal that could be signed as early as this weekend.

Speaking on Thursday night, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran was reviewing a proposal brokered by Qatar and Pakistan but dismissed reports agreement had been reached as “speculation,” adding that “nothing has been finalized.”

“So far, Iran has not reached a final conclusion on the agreement. Whenever we reach a conclusion that the text of the [memorandum of] understanding is in the interest of the Iranian nation, we will announce it.

“The status of negotiations was clear to us from the beginning and a major part of the text had been finalized, but the Americans kept changing their positions,” said Baqaei who stressed Iran would never retreat from or compromise “on what it defines as its red lines.”

Baqaei’s comments came hours after Trump called off planned large-scale strikes against Iran, including Kharg Island, from which 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports are shipped, saying the Iranian leadership, and other regional powers, had approved “final points” of a deal to end the war.

“Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved, I have, as President of the United States of America, cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening,” Trump said Thursday afternoon.

Trump later said the deal was “subject to finalization of documents, which should get done, over the next few days” and that there would “probably” be a signing ceremony, with Europe the most likely location.

The status of the Strait of Hormuz was also in contention with an announcement by U.S. Central Command that the key shipping route was not controlled by Iran and was “open for transit” to all vessels not in breach of the U.S. blockade of Iran, contradicted by Baqaei.

“The Strait of Hormuz remains closed due to illegal U.S. actions,” he said.

Trump has stated an agreement to end the fighting was imminent on multiple occasions since a cease-fire, originally for two weeks, came into force on April 28.

The deal being negotiated is a memorandum of understanding extending the cease-fire for 60 days to allow larger negotiations on the main issues, including Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium and its nuclear program.

Oil prices reacted strongly to the developments overnight with both Brent crude, the international benchmark, and West Texas Intermediate, falling sharply in the global market. The Brent contract for August delivery was down $3.83 a barrel at $86.54 in mid-morning trade in London on Friday while American crude for July delivery was changing hands at $83.88 a barrel, down $3.83.

REALITY star Katie Price has hit back at rumours her marriage to Lee Andrews is on the rocks as she shut down speculation in a feisty move.

The couple, who tied the knot in January, were due to appear on GMB on Tuesday but Lee failed to reach the UK leaving Katie to face the interview solo.

Lee’s no show further fuelled rumours of his travel ban, which could explain his many unsuccessful attempts at arriving in England.

After “businessman” Lee ditched plans to fly in, Katie called him out on social media saying he’s made me “look a d**k.”

Fans watched as Katie publicly questioned her husband for the first time and they were convinced the pair were heading for divorce.

But, Katie has clapped back, making fun of those discussing her marriage.

Mixed messages

Katie Price backtracks on husband’s ‘travel ban’ as story doesn’t ‘add up’

PRICEY MISTAKE

I fell for Dubai millionaire’s scam says Danielle Lloyd in warning to Katie

She reposted a picture of a Bratz doll blowing a kiss, with the caption: “Glad I’m the girl being talked about not the miserable one doing the talking.”

Earlier today Katie was forced to put out a statement addressing rumours of her marriage collapse.

She said: “Due to all the madness of trolling, people’s speculation and media frenzy that as a married couple we have both decided @wesleeandrews is taking a break from social media.

“And we are keeping things between us for now as it’s our life and marriage and are very happy.”

It seems Katie made quite the U-turn since she offered Lee a damning ultimatum just days ago.

She explained on her podcast The Katie Price Show: “I said to him, ‘If you don’t turn up to England this time, what’s the deal? Tell me what’s going on because I’m not flying out to Dubai now. I’ve got family, my kids and my job here’.”

Katie said: “If you can’t come to the UK and you are on a flight ban, it’s fine. Just tell me. Does it matter if you can’t fly out of Dubai for whatever reasons, whether it’s two years, three years or never, just tell me.

“I want answers. Just a bit of respect. Just tell me what’s going on.”

While Lee is taking a social media hiatus, Katie is still very much online.

She recently reposted a cryptic quote amid the Lee drama, which said: “Someone asked me what my favourite place is.

“I said: I don’t have a favourite place. I have my favourite people, my kids.

“Whenever I’m with my kids that becomes my favourite place.”