Mito Pereira Announces Retirement from Professional Golf
On December 22, 2025, Chilean golfer Mito Pereira announced his retirement from professional golf via social media. This decision comes three years after Pereira was one hole away from winning a major at the 2022 PGA Championship. The 30-year-old golfer had joined the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League in 2023 and earned over $11.5 million in three seasons. However, he finished at No. 51 in the standings this year and was relegated out of the league.
Pereira’s manager had mentioned three weeks ago that the golfer had broken his collarbone in a bicycle accident and was waiting to get fit to figure out his next step. But in his Instagram post, Pereira cited a desire to step away from constant travel and focus on his personal life as the reason for his retirement. “After many years connected to this beautiful sport, priorities naturally evolve,” he said. “Today, my main desire is to step away from constant travel, return to Chile, and focus on my personal life.”
Notable Career Moments
Pereira is best known for his near-win at the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He took a three-shot lead into the final round and was one shot ahead going to the 18th when he aggressively took driver and put it in a creek. He made double bogey and finished one shot out of a playoff won by Justin Thomas. This was the first time since Phil Mickelson in the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot that a player took a one-shot lead into the final hole of a major and made double bogey to lose.
Pereira also played for the International team in the Presidents Cup in 2022 and was part of a playoff for the bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics. He ended the year at No. 44 when he decided to join the LIV team of fellow Chilean Joaquín Niemann. Pereira had a pair of top-three finishes his first year with LIV and finished at No. 8, but he narrowly stayed in the top 48 the following year with only one top-10. His best finish in 2025 was a tie for 13th.
Reflections on His Career
In his retirement announcement, Pereira reflected on the lessons he learned from golf. “Golf taught me resilience, how to navigate both good and difficult moments, and how to make discipline and goals a way of life,” he said. “I believe I am well prepared for what lies ahead.” Pereira did not indicate what he would do next, but he expressed his desire to return to Chile and focus on his family. “I spent many years living away from home, in another country, countless weeks in hotels and airports,” he wrote. “Now, the time has come to pause. Chile is my place in the world, and my family is my reason for being.”
Pereira’s retirement marks the end of a notable career in professional golf. His decision to step away from the sport and focus on his personal life is a reminder that even the most successful athletes must prioritize their well-being and happiness. As Pereira moves on to the next chapter of his life, he can look back on his accomplishments with pride and gratitude for the opportunities he had in the world of golf.
