LIV Golf League star confirms shock retirement from sport

Former LIV Golf player Mito Pereira has announced his shock retirement from professional golf at the age of 30, bringing an abrupt end to a career that once promised the very top of the sport.

Pereira had represented Joaquín Niemann’s Torque GC since the start of the 2023 season, joining LIV Golf during the league’s second year. 

However, a difficult 2025 campaign saw the Chilean record just one top-20 finish, ending the season 51st in the individual standings and inside the Drop Zone.

Relegation meant Pereira was eligible to attempt to regain his place via the LIV Golf Promotions event in January 2026, but he has declined that opportunity and instead chosen to step away from competitive golf altogether.

Pereira earned more than $17m in prize money from LIV Golf events. 

The decision comes as a major surprise given Pereira’s pedigree and previous trajectory. 

He remains best known for his near-miss at the 2022 US PGA Championship at Southern Hills, where he led by three shots heading into the final round and still held a one-shot advantage standing on the 18th tee. A wayward drive into the creek led to a costly double bogey, dropping him out of contention as Justin Thomas went on to defeat Will Zalatoris in a three-hole playoff.

Before that heartbreak, Pereira had established himself as one of the game’s rising stars. 

He won three times on the Korn Ferry Tour to earn his PGA Tour card and went on to post several close calls at the highest level, though a PGA Tour victory ultimately eluded him.

Pereira also came agonisingly close to an Olympic medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021, finishing tied third before losing a seven-man playoff for bronze. Xander Schauffele claimed gold, Rory Sabbatini took silver and CT Pan emerged with the bronze medal. 

The Chilean later represented the International Team at the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Club, where he played three matches, tying one and losing two as the Internationals fell five points short of the United States.

After three full seasons on LIV Golf, Pereira confirmed his retirement in a statement posted to social media on Monday 22 January.

Scroll down this page to read Pereira's statement in full...

"I'm writing these lines to share that, after a period of reflection, I have decided to bring my career as a professional golfer to an end," wrote Pereira on his Instagram page.

"This was not a decision made overnight but one I have been thoughtfully considering for some time, waiting for the right moment to communicate it. 

"After many years connected to this beautiful sport, priorities naturally evolve. Today, my main desire is to step away from constant travel, return to Chile and focus on my personal life."

Reflecting on his career, Pereira added: "Golf played a fundamental role in my life. It allowed me to grow both personally and professionally to meet incredible people, experience different cultures and set goals - most of which I was fortunate enough to achieve - taking steps I never imagined possible. 

"I now begin a new chapter feeling happy, motivated and at peace, without urgency about what the future may bring. I simply want you to know that i am well and proud of what I accomplished in this sport."

He also highlighted the moments that meant most to him: "I carry with me unforgettable moments, the three Korn Ferry Tour titles that earned me a place on the PGA Tour, my time on the LIV Tour, where I discovered many destinations and truly enjoyed competing as part of an incredible team, Team Torque, and the honor of representing Chile at the Pan American Games and the Olympic Games. Standing on the podium in Lima 2019 and narrowly missing an Olympic medal in Tokyo 2020 are moments that will remain forever in my memory and in my heart."

Pereira concluded by thanking those who supported him throughout his journey and explaining his desire to return home: "I spent many years living away from home, in another country, countless weeks in hotels and airports. 

"Now, the time has come to pause. Chile is my place in the world, and my family is my reason for being. Golf taught me resilience, how to navigate both good and difficult moments, and how to make discipline and goals a way of life. I believe I am well prepared for what lies ahead."

Read Pereira's full statement below: