Just a few short years ago, Chilean pro Mito Pereira seemed to have one of the brightest futures in golf. He’d earned a PGA Tour promotion in impressive fashion and was one hole away from being a major champion before joining LIV Golf.
But now we know what seemed like pereira’s breakout year ended up being his peak, as the young pro announced his surprise retirement from pro golf this week.
Hear’s what you need to know.
Mito Pereira Shocks With Early Retirement from Pro Golf
In his brief time in the spotlight,Pereira made a meaningful impact.
In 2019, he played his first major and earned a bronze medal for Chile in the Pan American Games, a feat he nearly repeated at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, where he finished T3 and lost in a playoff for the bronze.
But the 2020/2021 season was his real breakthrough. Playing the Korn Ferry Tour,Pereira won three times,including back-to-back events in June 2021. The winning streak earned him an instant promotion to the PGA Tour.
mito Pereira’s heartbreaking PGA finish doesn’t tell the full story
He earned a solo-third in his first tour start after the promotion at the 2021 Fortinet Championship.
But the highlight of Pereira’s career, and perhaps the lowlight, came at the 2022 PGA Championship. There, the up-and-coming star built a three-shot lead heading into the final round at quail Hollow. He struggled on Sunday, but still had a one-shot advantage standing on the 18th tee.
A double bogey followed, dropping him one shot out of a playoff for the Wanamaker trophy.
In 2023, Pereira decided to leave the PGA tour and join LIV Golf, which at the time seemed like a big get for the league. but Pereira struggled on LIV, eventually finishing 51st in 2025 to get relegated.
Which brings us to this week. Though he’d lost his spot in LIV,Pereira is still only 30 years old,with his prime playing days seemingly still ahead. Here are Pereira’s words on the matter:
“It has been an honor to represent 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.
I would like to thank anto, my family, and all my friends, both within and beyond golf. I am also deeply grateful to my manager, coach, team, sponsors who trusted the process, and the many fans that always made me feel loved. Throughout this long journey,many people supported and contributed to my advancement,and I will always be thankful to them.
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 beleive I am well prepared for what lies ahead.” – Mito Pereira
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