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LIV Golf competitor Mito Pereira announced Monday that he is retiring from professional golf and will return to Chile to focus on his personal life.
Pereira is only 30 years old. He joined LIV Golf in 2023 and was part of Torque GC with fellow Chilean golf star Joaquin Niemann.
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Mito Pereira plays his shot from the ninth tee during the first round of the LIV Golf Bedminster golf tournament at Trump National Bedminster on August 11, 2023. (Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports)
“I am writing this to share that after a period of reflection, I have decided to end my career as a professional golfer,” he said in a statement posted on Instagram. “This is not a decision made overnight, but one that I have thought about carefully for some time, waiting for the right moment to communicate it.
“After many years linked to this beautiful sport, priorities naturally evolve. Today my main desire is to move away from constant travel, return to Chile and focus on my personal life.
“Golf has played a fundamental role in my life. It has allowed me to grow both personally and professionally, meet incredible people, experience different cultures and set goals, most of which I have been fortunate to achieve, taking steps I never imagined possible. I now begin a new chapter feeling happy, motivated and at peace, with no urgency about what the future may bring. I just want you to know that I am fine and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in this sport.”
Mito Pereira on the 17th hole of Old White at the Greenbrier on August 18, 2024. (Bob Donnan/USA TODAY Sports)
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Pereira had three victories on the Korn Ferry Tour before receiving his PGA Tour card. He also scored eight victories on the Chilean circuit.
He played in several major tournaments, finishing in a tie for third place in the 2022 PGA Championship. He also finished in a tie for third place at the Tokyo Olympics, but lost in a playoff for the bronze medal.
Pereira recalled these moments in his statement.
“I would like to thank Anto, my family and all my friends, both in golf and beyond,” he added. “I am also deeply grateful to my manager, my coach, my team, my sponsors who trusted the process and the many fans who always made me feel loved. Throughout this long journey, many people have supported and contributed to my development, and I will always be grateful to them.
Mito Pereira attends a LIV Golf Miami practice session at Trump National Doral on April 2, 2024. (Sam Navarro/USA TODAY Sports)
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“I have spent many years away from home, in another country, countless weeks in hotels and airports. Now the time has come for a break. Chile is my place in the world and my family is my reason for being. Golf has taught me resilience, how to get through good and difficult times, and how to make discipline and goals a way of life. I believe I am well prepared for what lies ahead.”
