Mito Pereira, one hole away from a major, announces his retirement from professional golf

Chilean golfer Mito Pereira made a farewell gesture after sinking a putt on the 18th hole during the third round of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club on May 21, 2022, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This Monday, the 30-year-old announced his retirement from professional golf via social media, three years after coming within one hole of winning a major tournament. In 2023, Pereira joined the Saudi Arabian-backed LIV Golf League, where he earned over $11.5 million in three seasons.

However, this year he finished 51st in the rankings and was relegated from the league.

His manager told the Associated Press that Pereira had suffered a broken collarbone in a bicycle accident and was waiting to recover before deciding on his next step. In an Instagram post, Pereira mentioned that he had been considering retirement for some time: “After many years in this beautiful sport, priorities naturally evolve,” he wrote. “Today, my main wish is to step away from constant travel, return to Chile, and focus on my personal life.”

With one year of experience at Texas Tech, Pereira is mainly remembered for his performance at the 2022 PGA Championship, where he had a three-stroke lead in the final round, but on the 18th hole, while attempting an aggressive drive, ended up in a creek.

He finished with a double bogey, one stroke shy of a playoff that was won by Justin Thomas. This was a remarkable event, as it was the first time since Phil Mickelson at the 2006 U.S. Open that a player with a one-stroke lead on the final hole of a major ended up losing with a double bogey.

Pereira, who participated in a playoff for the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, was also part of the International team at the 2022 Presidents Cup. At the end of that year, he was ranked 44th before joining his compatriot Joaquín Niemann's team at LIV. In his first year, he achieved two top-3 finishes and finished eighth, but the following year he remained in the top 48 with only one top-10 finish. His best result in 2025 was a tie for 13th place.

Regarding his future, Pereira didn't give specific details: “I spent many years living far from home, in another country, countless weeks in hotels and airports,” he wrote. “Now the time has come to take a break. Chile is my place in the world, and my family is my reason for being. Golf taught me to be resilient, to navigate both good and bad times, and to make discipline and goals a way of life. I believe I am well prepared for what's to come.”