49-Year-Old PGA Tour Pro Reveals Why He’s Paying a Penalty Others Avoided

Feb 15, 2026, 1:30 PM CUT

Bildnummer: 04345461 Datum: 11.03.2009 Copyright: imago/Icon SMI Silhouette von Tiger Woods (USA) während die Sonne aufgeht - PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxONLY (Icon3690903111511); Eldrick, Vdig, quer, Aufmacher, premiumd, Symbol, Sonne, Sonnenlicht, Sonnenschein, Gegenlicht, Sunrise, Sonnenaufgang, Sunset, Sundown, Sonnenuntergang, Morgengrauen, Golfer, Golfspieler, WGC CA Championship 2009, PGA Tour, Training Doral / Miami Golf Herren Einzel Gruppenbild Aktion Werbemotiv Personen Image number 04345461 date 11 03 2009 Copyright imago Icon Smi Silhouette from Tiger Woods USA during The Sun concurrently PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxONLY Eldrick Vdig horizontal Highlight premiumd symbol Sun Sunlight Sunshine Gegenlicht Sunrise Sunrise Sunset Sundown Sunset Dawn Golfers Golfer WGC Approx Championship 2009 PGA Tour Training Doral Miami Golf men Singles Group photo Action shot Highlight Human Beings

Suspended. Three-time PGA Tour winner Pat Perez is not eligible to return to PGA Tour-sanctioned competition until January 1, 2027.

But is it all because of one loophole Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed understood, and Perez didn’t?

Pat Perez will turn 50 in March, making him eligible to compete on the PGA Tour Champions, including the U.S. Senior Open, the Senior PGA Championship, and the Senior British Open.

Since Perez earned more than $26 million during his PGA Tour career, he secured his place through the all-time money list.

Despite meeting the eligibility criteria, Perez said his return has been delayed due to penalties tied to his membership status and participation in LIV Golf events.

BEDMINSTER, NJ - AUGUST 09: Pat Perez of Aces tees off at the 15th tee during the practice round at Trump National Golf Club on August 9, 2023 in Bedminster, New Jersey. Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire GOLF: AUG 09 LIV Golf Bedminster EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon23080922223

Pat Perez appeared on GOLF’s Subpar podcast ten days ago, where he explained why he has to pay penalties. Perez said, "I'm paying the penalty for playing those tournaments."

Perez added, "Those (other) guys resigned. So they don't face any penalties because they weren't members. It's like this loophole, I guess, where you resign, and now you don't face any penalties because you fall into this non-member category. But then you get to come back, and they told me if you would have resigned, you'd have been able to play in August."

Pat Perez Explains His Decision

Pat Perez joined LIV Golf in June 2022, with his signing announced on June 11 before the event at Pumpkin Ridge in Portland.

However, unlike some players, Perez did not formally resign his PGA Tour membership at the time. Instead, he allowed his membership to lapse by not renewing the required agreement.

Perez explained why he chose not to resign from the PGA Tour. He said, “The way I looked at it, if you resign from the Tour, that means they’re going to have to reinstate you at some point. They don’t actually have to do that."

He believed that if a player resigns, the Tour has full discretion and might not grant reinstatement. At the time, Perez said it did not appear certain that reinstatement would be granted.

His playing run ended after the 2024 season when he finished 48th in the individual standings and lost his roster spot.

He then moved into an on-course analyst role for LIV Golf in 2025. The PGA Tour also considered this role as participation in an unauthorized event.

Which is why Perez is not eligible to compete in PGA Tour-sanctioned events during the 2026 season. As a result, his return to the PGA Tour Champions has been delayed.

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi