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Pat Perez of Aces GC hits a tee shot on the third hole during Day One of the LIV Golf Invitational – Tulsa at Cedar Ridge Country Club on May 12, 2023.
he PGA Tour recently made headlines by reinstating former LIV Golf player Pat Perez as a member, marking another significant moment in the evolving landscape of professional golf. While Perez’s return underscores the PGA Tour’s shifting approach to players who left for rival circuits, it comes with notable limitations that set it apart from other high-profile returns.
Perez, a PGA Tour winner with a long career dating back to the late 1990s, left the PGA Tour in 2022 to join LIV Golf. After three years on the LIV circuit, including a team title with Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces, Perez’s playing status in that league dissipated following a mixed performance in 2024. He subsequently worked as a broadcaster for LIV Golf in 2025, a role that the PGA Tour has considered part of promoting unauthorized events and factored into his disciplinary treatment.
Despite his reinstatement as a Tour member, Perez is not immediately eligible to compete in PGA Tour-affiliated tournaments. Because Perez did not qualify for the PGA Tour’s recent Returning Member Program, he must still satisfy ongoing disciplinary criteria before teeing it up again on Tour.
“At his request, Pat Perez was reinstated as a member but is not eligible to participate in PGA Tour-affiliated tournaments at this time,” the tour said. “The PGA Tour does not comment on disciplinary matters.”
What Reinstatement Really Means
In Perez’s case, the PGA Tour has been clear that reinstatement does not automatically equate to competition eligibility. Tour officials have also refrained from commenting publicly on specific disciplinary measures, making it uncertain exactly when or if Perez will be cleared to play in regular PGA Tour events.
This contrasts sharply with the situation for Brooks Koepka, who rejoined the PGA Tour via a formal Returning Member Program for eligible ex-LIV players–a one-time pathway that requires relinquishing certain financial benefits and accepting significant penalties. Because Perez did not win a major or a Players Championship between 2022 and 2025, he was not eligible for this program and instead falls under the Tour’s broader non-member policy.
At 49 years old, Perez is nearing eligibility for the PGA Tour Champions circuit, which he could join when he turns 50 in March. The reinstatement may ultimately help him pursue competition in senior majors like the U.S. Senior Open, Senior PGA Championship, or Senior British Open, even if his return to the main Tour remains uncertain.
According to Golf Channel, “Perez earned more than $26 million on the PGA Tour, [and] he eclipsed $17 million competing on LIV in 34 starts.”
This Return Doesn’t Signal a Massive LIV Departure
Perez’s career has been a long and winding one. A three-time winner on the PGA Tour, including victories at the Bob Hope Classic and the CIMB Classic, Perez carved out a reputation as a gritty, outspoken competitor. His decision to jump to LIV Golf was part of a broader wave of established Tour pros seeking new opportunities and financial security in the rival league.
While Perez, Koepka, and other former LIV players have explored pathways back to the PGA Tour, marquee names like Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm have been unequivocal about their commitment to LIV Golf.
“I’m contracted through 2026, so excited about this year,” DeChambeau said.
Rahm has framed his move as a long-term decision rooted in family, stability, and the league’s global vision.
“I’m not planning on going anywhere, so very similar answer to what Bryson gave,” Rahm said. “I wish Brooks [Koepka] the best, and as far as I’m concerned, I’m focused on LIV for this year and hoping my team can repeat as champs.”
Alyssa Polczynski Alyssa Polczynski is a multimedia journalist covering Major League Baseball for Heavy.com. She has experience as an editorial producer for MLB.com and contributed to the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). More about Alyssa Polczynski
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