PGA Tour winner reacts to Victor Perez joining LIV Golf: "Life is made of choices"

PGA Tour winner Matthieu Pavon says he is going to miss Victor Perez after his compatriot joined LIV Golf. 

LIV teased Perez's imminent arrival on Monday evening with a cryptic social media post that read "a new chapter begins" alongside the word "Allez".  

It prompted speculation that one of France's Perez, Pavon, Antoine Rozner, Martin Couvra or Romain Langasque would be decamping to the PIF-backed league. 

The Times' Tom Kershaw later broke the news the three-time DP World Tour winner was joining LIV Golf. 

It came only a few hours before Perez, 33, withdrew from the PGA Tour's RSM Classic. 

It is not clear if Perez received an up-front fee to join LIV, but he will now have the opportunity to compete in 13 $25m events and a $50m team championship. 

There is clearly some animosity between the established tours and LIV Golf but Pavon, 33, has wished his friend well. 

"Only love to my friend Victor Perez as he begins his new journey," Pavon wrote on his personal X account on Wednesday. 

"Life is made of choices, and I'm sure he has made it for the best: for his family, for himself and for his team. Will miss our fun moments together on the course."

Perez will have to wait a few months before his first LIV start. 

LIV's fourth full season begins in Riyadh next February. 

Henrik Stenson criticised

Elsewhere, it has been reported that former Open champion Henrik Stenson plans to return to the DP World Tour in 2026 following his relegation from LIV Golf. 

According to bunkered, the 49-year-old Swede has settled fines of more than £1m with Europe's top circuit he received for competing in conflicting LIV events. 

He was among the first wave of players to be recruited by LIV in 2022 and his decision to join saw him stripped of the European Ryder Cup captaincy. 

Stenson underwhelmed on the course this season and was among six full-time players that were relegated. 

It was assumed Stenson would turn to the Asian Tour next season or attempt to earn his spot back via LIV's Promotions event next January. 

Both are still possibilities but it appears Stenson is also keen on getting his card back with the DP World Tour. 

Telegraph Sport are reporting, however, that Stenson faces a battle to get into some of the Rolex Series events because of a rule that was changed last October. 

The DP World Tour have confirmed said rule was changed in October 2024. 

And an insider has criticised Stenson, explaining that it should not be forgotten the golfer embarrassed Wentworth HQ by joining LIV when he had already agreed to lead Europe at the 2023 Ryder Cup.