Even though Scott O’Neil had already hinted that LIV would be targeting PGA players this offseason, Victor Perez’s move is not the type of signing that is going to turn heads on the other side.
Perez joins Martin Kaymer’s Cleeks GC, stepping in for Frederik Kjettrup, who was dropped following relegation. It gives a bit more depth to a team that have not shown much promise this season.
The Frenchman’s decision came out just before the season wrapped up. He pulled out of The RSM Classic right before the news broke.
He had been aiming to break into the top 100 of FedEx Cup standings after a tough year, but those plans were put on hold once his future became clear, and this appears to have influenced Perez’s choice to join LIV.
Victor Perez says changes to PGA Tour pushed him towards LIV Golf
Perez spoke with Bunkered about how recent changes in the PGA Tour made him look for something more stable, noting that LIV offered a clearer path forward.
He said: “You know, there’s been times early in the year where I thought I had qualified for one [event], but then actually I didn’t qualify and then end up qualifying for some.
“Trying to keep up with other things they were trying to do made it a bit more difficult.”
“This year you come about and then they’re cutting 25 cards because all of a sudden, you know, pace of play is an issue.
“I had a really long conversation well before this with Brian Rolapp, asking how the tour was going about and what his vision of it was. It seems like things were going to keep moving and changing.
“I felt like I was at a point in my career where I was looking for a bit more stability, which is something that I really hadn’t had, and LIV seems to be doing this.”
The PGA Tour’s shift towards a tougher landscape
The PGA Tour’s decision to cut back on the number of full status cards is a move that carries some risk. Players who finish outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup will face a tough path to regain their full membership, needing strong results in limited starts.
The bigger names on tour will likely adjust without much trouble as the environment grows more competitive.
But over time, there is a chance it could make it harder for new talent to break through and establish themselves at the highest level.
Scottie Scheffler has been a huge benefit for them, especially after Tiger Woods stepped back from regular play.
If they do not get another player like him soon, they may feel the pressure of these changes even more.
Perez is not likely to create headlines with his switch to LIV, but his decision highlights an opportunity for LIV Golf to position themselves as an alternative route for players trying to break through.
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