The Latest Example of Golf’s Fickle Nature

Southern Hills, 2022. Mito Pereira was a mere just-get-it-in-play tee shot away from winning the PGA Championship. But a sprawling creek right of the fairway had other plans. An eventual double-bogey not only pushed him out of the lead but also on the outside looking in of the eventual playoff between Justin Thomas and Will Zalatoris.

Utter disaster for the then-27-year-old.

Three years later, the Chilean has called it a career. Pereira, 30, announced his retirement from professional golf on social media on Monday.

“I spent many years living away from home, in another country, countless weeks in hotels and airports,” Pereira wrote. “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.”

Pereira joined LIV Golf in 2023, but his experience was mixed. He tallied some good finishes in his first season, but in 2025, he failed to grab a single top-10 and was one of six players to be relegated.

Despite some of the lows, Pereira also played on the game’s biggest stages. He was part of the International Team at the 2022 Presidents Cup, and he represented Chile at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics.

Enjoy retirement, Mito!