Mickelson in FBI probe

PHIL MICKELSON will head for the US Open at Pinehurst in 10 days’ time with a potentially huge off-course distraction.

The American left-hander, 43, who won The Open at Muirfield last year, is the subject of an FBI probe into insider trading on the Wall Street stock exchange.

Mickelson, a three-time Masters winner, insists he did not break rules when trading in two companies.

In a statement, he said: ‘I have done absolutely nothing wrong. I have cooperated with the government and will continue to do so.’

But the New York Times has reported that the FBI and the America Securities and Exchange Commission are looking into links between Mickelson, billionaire investor Carl Icahn and Las Vegas gambler William Walters.

The inquiry is reportedly examining whether Mickelson and Walters traded shares illegally, based on information provided by Icahn. The investigation, which began three years ago, is focusing on trades in a cleaning products company Clorox.

The New York Times quotes sources saying federal authorities are looking into trades placed in August 2011 just before the company announced its quarterly results.

In a second investigation, federal authorities are looking into trading in Dean Foods, that has no apparent connection to Icahn.

Mickelson and Walters are reported to have placed trades on Dean Foods around August 2012, just before the company announced its quarterly earnings and made a public offering of stock for one of its subsidiaries.

‘We do not know of any investigation,’ Icahn, 78, has told Reuters, saying he was proud of his 50-year ‘unblemished record’.