LIV Golf Star to make Olympic team after an unexpected Withdrawal
LIV Golf’s Mito Pereira has been given a renewed chance to compete in the Olympics. The 29-year-old golfer, who participated in the Tokyo Games four years ago, narrowly missed a medal after losing in a playoff for the bronze. His prospects for qualifying for the upcoming Paris Olympics seemed bleak following his move to the…
LIV Golf’s Mito Pereira has been given a renewed chance to compete in the Olympics. The 29-year-old golfer, who participated in the Tokyo Games four years ago, narrowly missed a medal after losing in a playoff for the bronze. His prospects for qualifying for the upcoming Paris Olympics seemed bleak following his move to the breakaway LIV Golf tour. Olympic qualification in golf is determined by the Official World Golf Ranking, a system that has led to some prominent players being left out of the Games.
LlNotably, Bryson DeChambeau, the 2020 and 2024 U.S. Open champion, will not be representing the United States in Paris. Despite his disappointment, the 30-year-old acknowledged that the outcome was a consequence of his own career choices.
Cristobal del Solar initially qualified for the Olympics ahead of Pereira. However, del Solar has since withdrawn to focus on securing his first PGA Tour card through the Korn Ferry Tour, which is the developmental circuit for the PGA Tour.
Discussing del Solar’s decision, Pereira told the official LIV website, “He wanted to achieve a certain number of points because he’s fighting for his PGA Tour card. It’s not a matter of one being more important than the other. Obviously, his main goal is to reach the PGA Tour, and I think he made a very smart choice.”
Pereira’s addition to the Olympic roster means that LIV Golf will now have seven representatives in Paris. These players include Joaquin Niemann, Jon Rahm, David Puig, Carlos Ortiz, Abraham Ancer, Adrian Meronk, and Pereira himself.
This development underscores the growing influence of LIV Golf on the international stage and highlights the diverse paths players take in pursuit of their career goals.