'It's so nice to be back': Suspended ex-LIV pro shines (again) at Senior Open

Former LIV Golf professional Pat Perez is once again in the spotlight, contending for the prestigious Senior Open Championship. Despite a one-year suspension from the PGA Tour, which expires on January 1, 2027, Perez is showcasing form worthy of the highest praise and intends to build a career on the PGA Tour Champions.

Perez in Pursuit of Senior Open Title

While many players who moved to LIV Golf faced uncertainty about their future in professional golf, Pat Perez, a three-time PGA Tour winner, has found a new path. After a brief stint with LIV Golf, where he played until the end of the 2024 season, Perez even tried his hand as an on-course reporter at LIV events in 2025. However, in January 2026, he made the unexpected decision to apply for reinstatement as a PGA Tour member, which resulted in a one-year suspension from all PGA Tour-sanctioned events.

Despite the temporary ban from the main tour, Perez, who has turned 50, is not waiting for his suspension to end to return to the game. Instead, he has focused on the PGA Tour Champions, where he has already made his mark. His participation in several senior majors in 2026 has been highly successful. Earlier this season, he finished tied for fifth at the Senior PGA Championship and tied for eighth at the U.S. Senior Open, held at Scioto Country Club.

At the current Senior Open Championship at Gleneagles, Perez is also showing excellent results. After a less than stellar second round (75 strokes), when he lamented the "crazy pins" and the challenges of links golf, he delivered an outstanding performance in the third round with a score of 67 (-5). This moved him into a tie for sixth place heading into the final day of competition.

'I Didn't Think There Was Ever Going to Be a Path for Me to Get Back'

Following his successful third-round performance, Perez shared his emotions with reporters. "I've played three majors this year. It's so nice to be back. I didn't think there was ever going to be a path for me to get back," he admitted. "It was frustrating, it's so fun to be back out here and playing again, and I'm really excited. I can't explain – I've been playing well. The courses aren't as long so I'm able to get in spots that I haven't been in a long time."

Speaking about links golf, Perez noted that he is gradually getting accustomed to the discipline. "I'm enjoying it and learning as I go. I can't explain it. There's bogeys everywhere. I made a ton yesterday. I don't know, just kind of hitting it where I need to and just trying to plot around and thinking a little bit different, maybe. It's fun. This kind of golf here, I've never really figured out how to do it," he said.

Perez also referenced Nick Faldo's recent comments about Bryson DeChambeau regarding strategy on links courses. "Like Faldo said last week, it's strategy. It's hard when you don't really play – I haven't played over here since Birkdale. It's a great course and I'm just having a blast this week and just kind of taking what's coming."

Regardless of the outcome of Sunday's final round, Perez looks optimistically towards the future. He eagerly anticipates next year, when he will be able to compete fully on the PGA Tour Champions.

"I've been grinding. I've been playing a lot at home. But every day is like a new day," Perez said on Saturday. "Like I can't wait to get into a groove next year, but it's really been fun."

Pat Perez's return to the top level of golf, despite past challenges, is a vivid example of his resilience and passion for the game. His successes at the Senior Open Championship confirm that he remains a formidable competitor on the golf course.