Mito Pereira: Surprising comeback that showed the way forward
Mito Pereira tells a wonderful story about a moment when he realized he might have a future as a top-level golfer.
Between the ages of three and 15, the Chilean had played golf with strong support from his parents. He competed in junior tournaments and was looking like a teenager whose obvious next step would be to move to a US college to hone his game.
Suddenly, he quit. He simply didn’t want to play the game any more. Pereira didn’t pick up a golf club for two years, until a fateful day when he was 17.
“A friend said, ‘You want to go and play golf?’ Two years without touching a club… and I shot four under. I thought, ‘OK, maybe I need to get back to it!’”
Pereira has no regrets about taking that break, which allowed him to play other sports and do plenty of growing up. But ever since returning to the game, his focus and progress have been impressive.
Now, as a member of LIV Golf team Torque GC, he is part of a strong Latino element to the series. As he moves into his thirties, he believes he has plenty of successful golf years in him yet.
Korn Ferry triple triumph triggers instant rise to PGA Tour
Korn Ferry triple triumph triggers instant rise to PGA Tour
Mito Pereira was born in Santiago in 1995 and it was in his homeland that he started to win following that unorthodox two-year break. As an amateur, he won the Abierto Las Brisas de Chicureo on the Chilean pro tour in 2013.
He moved to Texas Tech in 2014 but never really settled and, after a year playing college golf for the Red Raiders – and reaching No.5 on the world amateur rankings – he turned pro in 2015.
More wins followed on the Chilean Tour and the PGA Tour Latinoamerica and, in the 2020-21 season, he recorded three victories on the Korn Ferry Tour.
That earned Pereira an instant promotion to the PGA Tour, where he found the transition smooth – he started making cuts and recording strong finishes straight away.
Mito Pereira’s late collapse hands PGA title to Justin Thomas
Mito Pereira’s late collapse hands PGA title to Justin Thomas
Mito Pereira proudly represented Chile at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021 and finished in a tie for third place, only to miss out on the bronze medal after a seven-man playoff.
The following year – at only his second Major tournament – he went agonizingly close to a sensational win at the PGA Championship at Southern Hills.
Three sub-70 rounds carried him to a three-shot lead going into the final day and, while his game was understandably affected by the tension of the situation, he battled bravely throughout a long Oklahoma afternoon.
Pereira still led by one as he stood on the tee at the 18th hole, but a poor swing sent his drive into a creek. From there he sent the ball over the green, and had to settle for a double-bogey that left him one shot out of the playoff.
Justin Thomas, who shot 67 to Pereira’s closing 75, won that playoff and later crassly proposed a mocking toast to Pereira at the champion’s dinner. Pereira admitted that jibe “hurt a little bit”, but metaphorically shrugged his shoulders and vowed simply to do better the next time he is in that position in a Major.
As he said in the immediate aftermath of the event: “I’m just happy with how the week turned out. I’m hoping to take this to learn for the future.”
Since then he has finished tied for 43rd at the 2023 Masters, and joint 18 th at the PGA Championship that same year.
His prospects of teeing it up regularly at tournaments such as the Masters and the US Open will improve only when LIV Golf events start counting towards the world rankings.
Pereira enjoys ‘amazing’ year after signing LIV Golf contract
Pereira enjoys ‘amazing’ year after signing LIV Golf contract
Mito Pereira joined the LIV Golf ranks at the start of 2023, and immediately found himself among friends. As a member of Torque GC, his captain is fellow Chilean Joaquin Niemann, while the other members are Ecuador’s Sebastian Munoz and Carlos Ortiz of Mexico.
“It’s a really good team, four friends,” said Pereira. “We push ourselves hard… it’s really nice to be in a team like this.”
Torque GC won the team prize at four tournaments in 2023, and were third on the overall season standings. Pereira contributed six top-10 finishes, including second at The Greenbrier, and said: “The first year has been amazing.”
He described his move to LIV Golf as “one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life” and clearly relishes the team element of the series.
Mito Pereira’s life away from the course
Mito Pereira’s life away from the course
On the golf course, Mito Pereira brings a measured, methodical approach to the game.
As his long-term caddie Scott McGuinness said: “He’s a guy to mostly leave alone and he works it out on his own.”
Away from the course, Pereira also has his life in good order. His wife is his childhood sweetheart, Antonia Prida. He said in 2022: “I started dating Antonia when I was away from playing, so I know she doesn’t just like me because of golf. It’s just because I’m handsome!”
The couple married in December 2021, and celebrated their union with family and friends the following month. They announced in early 2024 that they were expecting their first child.
The Pereira family lives in Jupiter, Florida, a popular base for pro golfers.
Pereira’s career earnings and sponsors
Pereira’s career earnings and sponsors
In his first two years playing LIV Golf events, Mito Pereira earned more than $14.7million. Since turning professional, he has also earned nearly $4million in prize money on the various other tours he has played on.
Pereira’s net worth has been bolstered by several sponsorship deals. When you look in the Chilean’s golf bag, you will find clubs manufactured by Ping – all the way from the woods to the wedges.
He also has partnerships with Titleist, Under Armour, and the investment bank Generational Group.
