Golfer Phil Mickelson in insider trading probe

US golfer Phil Mickelson has said he is cooperating with an insider trading investigation involving him, investor Carl Icahn and Las Vegas gambler Billy Walters, but maintains he did nothing wrong.

Phil Mickelson with the Open trophy. Picture: Ian Rutherford

Mickelson’s manager confirmed that the investigation was the same outlined in reports in several newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal.

It has been reported that federal investigators are looking into the trading patterns of Mickelson, the reigning Open and Scottish Open champion, and Walters involving two stocks.

The newspapers say the FBI and Securities and Exchange Commission are analysing trades Mickelson and Walters made in cleaning product manufacturer Clorox around the time Icahn was attempting to take over the company.

Mickelson won the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield near Edinburgh last year.