Journeyman Pat Perez reinstated by PGA Tour after making a mint at LIV. Not sure when he'll compete next
Pat Perez, the veteran golfer who joined LIV Golf in its 2022 launch, has been quietly reinstated as a member of the PGA Tour. The confirmation follows speculation about his status, particularly regarding his recent role as an on-course commentator for the rival league. However, the Tour has clarified that Perez is not currently eligible to compete in any affiliated tournaments, with no timeline provided for his potential return to competition.
Perez’s move to LIV solidified his reputation as one of the circuit’s most vocal early defectors. While his individual performance remained modest—he finished 48th in the 2024 LIV standings, losing his team spot for 2025—he became emblematic of the league's lucrative team format. As a member of the championship-winning 4Aces GC, captained by Dustin Johnson, Perez shared in the $16 million first-place team prize in 2022, a moment he famously underscored by stating, "I'm paid. I don't give a damn," in response to critics.
His path back to the PGA Tour differs from other high-profile players. Perez does not qualify for the Tour's new "Returning Member Program," which facilitates the reinstatement of major champions or Players Championship winners from the LIV Golf cohort, such as Brooks Koepka. Players like Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, and Cam Smith, while eligible for that program, have publicly committed to remaining with LIV.
The Tour's statement was succinct: "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 PGA Tour does not comment on disciplinary matters."
Now 49, Perez will turn 50 in March, opening a potential avenue to compete on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, should his PGA Tour eligibility be restored. He is already eligible for several senior majors, including the U.S. Senior Open and the Senior PGA Championship. For now, the journeyman pro turned commentator awaits a decision on when, or if, he can resume his playing career on the tours he left behind.
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