Pat Perez is back, but not quite back in action. The colorful, long-time PGA Tour pro has officially been reinstated as a member, but don’t expect to see him teeing it up in a PGA Tour event anytime soon. His is layered in more questions than clarity, with the PGA Tour citing disciplinary reasons and declining to offer further details.
Perez PGA Tour Reinstated, But Still on the Sidelines
Here’s what we know. Perez, who turns 50 on March 1, applied for reinstatement and was granted it, but with a caveat: he is not currently eligible to play in any PGA Tour-affiliated tournaments. This includes the main tour and its senior counterpart, the PGA Tour Champions. The situation, per the Tour, is governed by its non-member policy and disciplinary process. And because the word “disciplinary” is involved, the Tour has chosen its familiar route of tight-lipped silence.
Returning Member Program Leaves Perez Out
The timing of Perez’s reinstatement is particularly interesting. It comes just days after the PGA Tour unveiled its Returning Member Program, a one-shot opportunity for certain LIV defectors to return under special conditions. The catch? The program only applies to major winners since 2022. Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, and Bryson DeChambeau are eligible. Pat Perez, who does not fit that profile, is not.
While Perez’s playing record in LIV wasn’t stellar, with only three top-10s over three seasons, his presence helped 4Aces dominate in the team standings. Yet, after being relegated at the end of 2022, he transitioned into a different role: broadcaster. And that may be where the trouble began. According to multiple reports, Perez’s involvement as an analyst for LIV Golf was viewed by the PGA Tour as “promoting unauthorized events.” That, in turn, triggered a suspension that was supposed to last until August 2026, one year after his final LIV broadcast.
A Wealthy Career, But an Uncertain Path Ahead
So what changed? Has the Tour softened its stance? Is Perez navigating a backdoor through legal or procedural channels? Or is this simply a formality, a reinstatement in name only, with a return to competition still far off?
One thing is certain: When Pat Perez is finally cleared, he’ll qualify for the PGA Tour Champions under the career-money exemption, thanks to a hefty $26 million in PGA Tour earnings. Add his $17 million haul from LIV, and Perez remains one of the most financially successful journeymen in modern golf.
But for now, he’s in limbo, a reinstated member without a tee time.
