LIV Golf Adds Quiet but Crucial Piece as Another Tour Loyalist Leaves
PGA, Golf Herren THE PLAYERS Championship - press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz March 13, 2020 Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA PGA commissioner Jay Monahan speaks to media after the cancellation of the 2020 edition of The Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass - Stadium Course. The tournament was cancelled at the conclusion of the first round due to the developing Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports, 13.03.2020 08:15:44, 14176858, NPStrans, PGA, TPC Sawgrass, The Players Championship, Jay Monahan, COVID-19, TopPic PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xAdamxHagyx 14176858| Credits: Imago
PGA, Golf Herren THE PLAYERS Championship - press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz March 13, 2020 Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA PGA commissioner Jay Monahan speaks to media after the cancellation of the 2020 edition of The Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass - Stadium Course. The tournament was cancelled at the conclusion of the first round due to the developing Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports, 13.03.2020 08:15:44, 14176858, NPStrans, PGA, TPC Sawgrass, The Players Championship, Jay Monahan, COVID-19, TopPic PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xAdamxHagyx 14176858| Credits: Imago
With LIV’s 2025 season ending in August, and the PGA Tour final event, at The RSM Classic, slated for this week, it’s that time of the year when the shuffle begins. Henrik Stenson has already made waves after reportedly settling £1 million ($13,14,875) in fines with the DP World Tour. Now, a longtime European PGA Tour member has left for LIV golf.
The three-time European title holder became the latest addition to the talent that has migrated from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf over the last three years. Yet, unlike former Major champions like Martin Kaymer and others who also joined LIV in 2022, the newest member of LIV’s Cleeks Golf Club has made history with his departure.
On Tuesday, LIV Golf announced that Victor Perez has become the first Frenchman to join the league. “Welcome to the team, Victor,” the official Cleeks Golf Club page posted on X, while LIV’s official handle commented on the post for good measure.
“Welcome to the league @v_perez2. See you in Riyadh,” they wrote while congratulating Perez. Besides creating history as the first Frenman to the LIV, Perez also became the first PGA Tour player in 2025 to make the switch to the Saudi-funded league. So what led to the switch?
Perez, who represented France at the 2024 Paris Olympics, only played the French Open out of the PGA events this year. His best finish, a tie for 9th at the RBC Canadian Open, wasn’t something to write home about either. At No. 108 in the FedEx Cup, Perez was at risk of losing his PGA card and even withdrew from the RSM Classic.
“Joining Cleeks Golf Club for the 2026 season feels like joining golf’s next great chapter, as this club continues to push boundaries, perform at the highest level, and bring fresh energy and vision to the game,” Perez said in a statement. That being said, a former LIV golfer has found his way to the PGA this year as well.
Not just a one-way streak
While Vitor Perez joins Cleeks under fellow former PGA player, Martin Kaymer (Captain), alongside Adrian Meronk and Richard Bland, former LIV Golfer Laurie Canter re-earned his PGA Tour card on November 17. Interestingly, Canter was one of the founding members of Cleeks Golf Club in 2022.
Unfortunately, the Englishman finished in the wild-card spot in the league the following year. 2024 was even worse as the LIV Golf replaced him with Anthony Kim after two events in 2024. While Canter’s world ranking also slipped to 258, the golfer's road to redemption began when he became the first former LIV Golfer to earn a spot in the The Players Championship last March.
August 3, 2025: Victor Perez hits ball on hole 9. Fourth round, 2025 Wyndham Championship, Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina. /CSM Greensboro United States of America - ZUMAc04_ 20250803_zma_c04_091 Copyright: xDavidxBeachx
August 3, 2025: Victor Perez hits ball on hole 9. Fourth round, 2025 Wyndham Championship, Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina. /CSM Greensboro United States of America - ZUMAc04_ 20250803_zma_c04_091 Copyright: xDavidxBeachx
Now, after a T2 finish at the Genesis Championship in Korea, a T3 in the DP World Tour playoff event, and more success, Canter's back to No. 42 and has earned his PGA Tour eligibility. So while Vitor Perez plans a fresh start at LIV in 2026, Canter heads back to the PGA.
While Victor Perez is confident about finding success with the league, what do you believe? Tell us your opinion
Written by
Sagnik Bagchi