MARANA (AZ) — Mito Pereira, who sat in front the “Full Swing” cameras one year ago and declared that winning on the PGA Tour was his “dream of my life”, had no idea of the career-defining events ahead.
The collapse on the 72nd Hole of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills; Joaquin Niemann being lured to LIV Golf; Pereira finally moving to LIV last month, after months-long discussions.
Pereira stated Wednesday that it was fine for him at the Gallery Golf Club, where LIV Tucson begins Friday. This decision is a good one. The PGA is a wonderful tour. It was my dream to play on the PGA.
“It was not a winning year on the PGA Tour… But I did get two majors this season. It’s possible.
Pereira became a professional in 2015. Pereira’s rookie season on PGA Tour was last. In his career, he made 39 starts on the PGA Tour and finished in the top 10 of six. His greatest accomplishment was also his greatest failure. He finished third in the PGA Championship at Southern Hills last year, which got him into the Masters and PGA Championship. However, he lost the lead on the 72nd green. (More on this later).
Pereira will likely never fulfill his dream if he doesn’t win the Masters or finish in the top 15 at the PGA Rochester in New York in May. He acknowledges that there is a possibility he won’t play on the PGA Tour ever again. This was after Commissioner Jay Monahan informed Pereira’s membership last summer, that any LIV member would be suspended.
Monahan stated last week that there has been no discussion about a return to the tour and that it was not possible.
Pereira, 27, said that she believes there will be no turning back. “Maybe it will, but that is the thought I have.”
Pereira is now at ease with this. It is a relief to know that the money from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund won’t stop flowing as long as LIV Golf exists. Pereira finished 15th at his first LIV event, three weeks ago at Mayakoba. He earned $287,000. Pereira’s total earnings from the PGA Tour was $3.7 million. This is $870,000 more than he earned last year at the PGA Championship.
He topped the world rankings at No. He currently ranks No. 50 in the world rankings, having topped out at No. 50), Pereira will likely surpass this total during LIV’s 14 event 2023 season.
Pereira considers the comfort of being with his closest friend as as important as the money. Rumours that Pereira would leave the tour began to circulate in August, when Niemann made his jump to LIV.
Pereira and Niemann were childhood golf buddies in Chile. Pereira and Antonia Prida moved to Tequesta in Florida in 2021 at Niemann’s request. Niemann settled in North Palm Beach five years ago.
Pereira’s career was set to change when Niemann went for LIV, then became captain of Torque.
Niemann stated, “What I wanted was for the best team possible and Mito is an excellent friend of mine and a better player.” “Everything fit. We shared almost every aspect of the game, including our putting coach and our fitness coach. It was much easier.
“He was the right player to me to bring him home.”
Pereira acknowledged that he made his decision late last summer. The contract was only announced in January this year.
Niemann stated that Niemann wanted to learn as much about LIV as possible. Niemann said, “Having two options and seeing which one he prefers. “I wanted to get him out and tell him about how great this product is.”
Pereira was reunited with the sweet memory of Southern Hills fresh in his mind.
He will always remember the 18-hole drive on Sunday afternoon. It was a shot that he would never forget, but which he has used to motivate himself and not allowed to define his career. He held the lead throughout the day and entered the last hole with a par to secure his first PGA Tour victory.
Pereira tried to hit a low runner but failed to finish the follow-through. Pereira’s awkward shot looked more like a baseball swing than a golf shot. He landed right at the bottom, in a narrow creek.
The cameras filming the Netflix documentary captured his comments.
He said, “I f—ing up,” to his caddie. “On the last hole.”
Pereira needed a bogey in order to qualify for the playoff. Pereira’s third shot was in the rough. He was now completely off his game and couldn’t get up or down. Justin Thomas would defeat Will Zalatoris during a playoff.
Pereira came in third.
Pereira stated that although it wasn’t the finish we desired, Pereira still enjoyed a great week. “I believe that’s all I could do to keep going and take the positives of finishing third.
When asked about the tee shot, he said that he could not forget it.
It remains to be questioned whether Pereira’s tee shot had landed in the middle fairway, and Thomas was the one kissing Wanamaker Trophy. Would he have been tempted by LIV if he did?
Would he have joined Cameron Smith to abandon the PGA Tour? Smith did it shortly after winning the British Open.
He said, “I don’t know.” It’s something I never think about. Joaquin’s departure would have been a disaster. I believe I would still be here.
