LIV golf player Mito Pereira has surprisingly quit the game at the age of 30.
In a heartfelt statement that he released on Monday, Pereira explained how he wanted a more settled life living in his native Chile after making millions as a professional athlete.
He said: ‘After many years connected to this beautiful sport, priorities naturally evolve. Today, my main desire is to step away from constant travel, return to Chile, and focus on my personal life.
‘Golf played a fundamental role in my life. It allowed me to grow both personally and professionally, to meet incredible people, experience different cultures, and set goals – most of which I was fortunate enough to achieve – taking steps I never imagined possible.
‘I now begin a new chapter feeling happy, motivated, and at peace, without urgency about what the future may bring. I simply want you to know that I am well and proud of what I accomplished in this sport.’
Pereira didn’t win a Major but he blew a three-shot lead in 2022 at the PGA Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After a rocky start to his final round, he had a one-shot lead on the 72nd hole but drove into water. Pereira ended up finishing third, with Justin Thomas eventually emerging victorious in a playoff.
LIV golf player Mito Pereira has surprisingly announced his retirment from golf at the age of 30
Pereira nearly won the 2022 PGA Championship but blew a final-round three-shot lead
He signed with LIV at the end of that season and finished eighth in his first campaign on the Saudi-backed tour, earning around $11million.
But he struggled this time around and was relegated ahead of the 2026 season which will now no longer factor into his thinking.
Pereira added: ‘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 believe I am well prepared for what lies ahead. Thank you all.’
Away from the sport, Pereira and his wife Antonia welcomed a baby boy in 2024, three years after they had got married.
He stepped away from golf before, when he was 16, telling Golfweek in 2022: ‘I got tired of it.
‘I quit and just played other sports for a while – dirt bike, soccer and tennis. One day, I wanted to play golf again and I came back. It’s that simple.’
But this time around, he sounded like a man who really is done for good.
He and his wife, Antonia, became parents in 2024, welcoming a baby boy togetherÂ
He added in his statemet: ‘I carry with me unforgettable memories: the three Korn Ferry Tour titles that earned me a place on the PGA Tour; my time on the LIV Tour, where I discovered many destinations and truly enjoyed competing as part of an incredible team, Team Torque; and the honor of representing Chile at the Pan American Games and the Olympic Games.Â
‘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.Â
‘Throughout this long journey, many people supported and contributed to my development, and I will always be thankful to them.’
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LIV Golf star Mito Pereira sensationally retires at age 30 with emotional statement