Golf star Phil Mickelson used service implicated in college bribery scandal

PHOENIX – Pro golfer and former Arizona State University star Phil Mickelson acknowledged using the services of the man at the center of the recent college bribery scandal but denied taking part in any fraud.

Mickelson, a three-time national champion for ASU before embarking on a wildly successful pro career in 1992, tweeted Thursday that he was “shocked by the revelations” of Rick Singer’s involvement.

Our family, along with thousands of others, used Rick Singer’s company to guide us through the college admission process. We are shocked by the revelations of these events. Obviously, we were not part of this fraud, our kids would disown us if we ever tried to interfere.

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) March 14, 2019

“Obviously, we were not part of this fraud, our kids would disown us if we ever tried to interfere,” Mickelson tweeted.

Fifty people, including Hollywood stars Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, were charged Tuesday in a scheme in which wealthy parents allegedly bribed college coaches and other insiders to get their children into some of the nation’s most selective schools.

Singer, the admissions consultant who founded the Edge College & Career Network of Newport Beach, California, pleaded guilty in the case and pledged to cooperate with federal prosecutors.

Some parents spent hundreds of thousands of dollars and some as much as $6.5 million to guarantee their children’s admission, officials said.

Mickelson, whose $90 million in career PGA Tour earnings is second only to Tiger Woods, has a daughter who is a sophomore at Brown University and two other kids in high school, according to the Golf Channel.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Related

Developer with Arizona ties charged in college cheating scandal1 dead, 1 critically hurt after crash involving motorcycle in GilbertInvestigators searching for suspect in deadly Phoenix hit-and-run incident1 hospitalized after being stung more than 100 times by bees at home in GoodyearDowntown Phoenix YMCA to close; demolition request surfacesTempe’s Filthy Animal named best new restaurant in US by Yelp