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LIV Golf competitor Mito Pereira announced he will retire from professional golf on Monday and will return to Chile and focus on his personal life.
Pereira is only 30 years old. He joined LIV Golf in 2023 and was at the Torque GC with fellow Chilean golf star Joaquin Niemann.
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Mito Pereira plays his shot during the first round of the LIV Golf Bedminster Championship at Trump National Bedminster on August 11, 2023. (Vincent Carchietta/USA Today Sports)
“I am writing these lines to announce 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 was not a decision made overnight, but one I had been carefully considering for some time, waiting for the right moment to communicate it to him.
“After many years of association with this beautiful sport, priorities evolve naturally. Today, my main desire is to get away from constant travel, return to Chile, and focus on my personal life.
“Golf has played an integral role in my life. It has allowed me to grow personally and professionally, meet amazing people, experience different cultures, set goals – most of which I have been lucky enough to achieve – and take steps I never imagined. I now begin a new chapter feeling happy, motivated and at peace, without pressure about what the future may hold. I simply want you to know that I am okay and proud of what I have accomplished in this sport.”
Mito Pereira on the 17th hole at The Old White at Greenbrier on August 18, 2024. (Bob Doonan/USA Today Sports)
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Pereira had three Korn Ferry Tour victories before earning his PGA Tour card. He also achieved eight victories in the Chilean round.
He played in several majors, finishing third at the 2022 PGA Championship. He also finished tied for third at the Tokyo Olympics, but lost a playoff for the bronze medal.
Pereira recalled those moments in his statement.
“I would like to thank Anto, my family and all my friends, both inside and outside of golf,” he added. “I am also extremely grateful to my manager, coaches, team and sponsors who trusted me in this 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 during a LIV Golf Miami practice round at Trump National Doral on April 2, 2024. (Sam Navarro/USA Today Sports)
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“I’ve spent many years living away from home, in another country, and countless weeks in hotels and airports. Now, it’s time to stop. Chile is my place in the world, and my family is my reason for being. Golf has taught me resilience, how to navigate between good and difficult moments, and how to make discipline and goals a way of life. I think I’m well prepared for what lies ahead.”
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