Victor Perez Moves to LIV Golf After Leaving PGA Tour

Victor Perez, a well-known golfer from France, has made a major decision in his career. He has officially left the PGA Tour and will now join the Saudi-funded LIV Golf league. This move makes him the first player this year to leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf. The announcement was made on Tuesday, and it has created a lot of discussion in the golf world.

Perez will be playing for the Cleeks team in LIV Golf, which is led by captain Martin Kaymer. The Cleeks already include strong players like Adrian Meronk of Poland and 52-year-old Richard Bland. Perez said he is excited about this new direction and believes it is the start of an important chapter in his career.

Victor Perez has been a respected golfer for years. He held joint membership on both the PGA Tour and the European Tour. During his time in Europe, he won three European Tour titles, which helped build his reputation as a skilled and consistent player.

In 2025, Perez mostly played in PGA Tour events. The only European Tour event he competed in this year was the French Open. His best finish on the PGA Tour was a tie for ninth place at the RBC Canadian Open. While that was a strong performance, he struggled to stay competitive throughout the season.

Perez is currently ranked No. 108 in the FedEx Cup, which put him in danger of losing his PGA Tour card. Because of this situation, many people were not surprised when he withdrew from the RSM Classic on Tuesday. Shortly after that, the announcement came that he would be joining LIV Golf.

In his statement, Perez said he believes LIV Golf is “golf’s next great chapter.” He explained that joining the Cleeks feels like joining a team that is pushing boundaries and bringing fresh ideas to the sport. He also said he is excited to perform at the highest level and bring new energy to his game.

LIV Golf offers players guaranteed contracts, team-based competition, and large prize money. Many golfers in recent years have shown interest in joining LIV Golf because it provides financial security and a different style of play compared to the PGA Tour.

For Perez, this move may also help him rebuild his confidence after a challenging season on the PGA Tour.

Perez will take the place of Frederik Kjettrup on the Cleeks team. Kjettrup was removed from LIV Golf this year because he finished outside the top 48 on the league’s points list. In LIV Golf, players who do not finish within the required rankings risk being relegated, which means losing their place in the league.

By joining the Cleeks, Perez will fill an important spot on the team, and his experience from both the PGA Tour and European Tour may help strengthen their overall performance.

Perez leaving the PGA Tour is another sign of how much the sport is changing. LIV Golf continues to grow and attract players from around the world. While some golfers stay loyal to traditional tours, others see LIV Golf as a new opportunity.

As the 2026 season approaches, golf fans will be watching closely to see how Perez performs in his new environment and how his move impacts both tours.