Phil Mickelson responds to 'slanderous' allegations

Phil Mickelson is once again facing serious questions over his money moves. 

A bombshell report from financial outlet Hunterbrook has claimed the six-time major winner got inside information about an oil company deal and shared it with a private group of investors before the news went public. 

The report, published on 31 October, alleges the 54-year-old passed on non-public details following a conversation with Sable Offshore chief executive Jim Flores. 

They claim Mickelson told the investors an announcement was coming that could've affected Sable's stock price and that the golfer was part of a "co-ordinated" effort to get federal support for Sable's oil project

Should the allegations turn out to be true, it would land the LIV Golf man in serious legal hot water. 

Mickelson has denied wrongdoing and fired back on social media, blasting the report's accusations as "slanderous" and accusing the publication of "stock manipulation". 

He made it clear that he did not trade on the information he received. 

"So a company says I can't say anything to you but we will announce something at the close," Mickelson wrote 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."

Mickelson's "past history" comment refers to his first dance with insider trading accusations. 

In 2016, the golf star paid the SEC more than $1m to settle a case linked to famous gambler Billy Walters. 

It was alleged Walters tipped off Mickelson, telling him to buy stock from Dean Foods before a major announcement. 

Mickelson did so and made approximately $931,000 in profit. 

The SEC investigated both men and, although Mickelson was never charged, was named as a "relief defendant". 

Mickelson paid up, plus interest, to settle the case. Walters was convicted and sentenced to five years. 

When he was released, he made some eye-popping claims about Mickelson's gambling habits. 

Walters was also upset that Mickelson refused to testify in his trial. 

"I've always prided myself on being a good judge of character," he previously told Sports Illustrated. 

"And I was hurt. I mean, I'll be honest with you, and frankly, when it was time for him to just be a stand-up guy and come forward and tell the truth, he wouldn't do it."