Latin America prefers LIV Golf: Mito Pereira’s escape multiplies the slamming of doors for Latin stars at the PGA

The LIV saw Latin America as a strategic place to carry out its revolution in the world of golf. The Saudi super league, led by legend Greg Norman, has managed in two years to position itself very clearly in the region, not only adding its great players, but also choosing to make its 2023 season debut in Mexico.

A blow that also affects the PGA and its institutional idea of ​​accountability for the entire Spanish-speaking territory of America. In recent years, the tour of the United States has clearly extended to the region, even allowing the return of the Korn Ferry Tour to Chile and Colombia. Moreover, in January 2023 they opened the first PGA Golf Academy in the region a school of learning located in the Riviera Maya.

But that controlling plane now has a compelling rival, mostly due to the fact that in 2023 the PGA has virtually no top-tier faces left on that side of the world. The four highest ranked Latinos in the world have decided to leave the traditional circuit and try your luck in the new league. They are also joined by Carlos Ortiz, who despite being world 260 was key in the massive leak.

And it is that the Mexican is one of the best friends of Joaquín Niemann (23rd in the world golf ranking) and he is also a pupil of Eduardo Miquel, who also coaches Mito Pereira (46th). Today they are all out of the PGA.

But not only did they say goodbye. The trident led by the Chilean coach was joined by the Mexican Abraham Ancer (27th) and the Colombian Sebastián Muñoz (96th), resulting in one of the five Top 100 Latinos on the North American tour, today only the Argentinian Emiliano Grillo (99° ).

Muñoz, who arrived at LIV two years ago with Mito, gave a not inconsiderable detail to explain the massive flight of Latino players that the PGA was having. “A lot of players started leaving for the LIV, there were fewer and fewer Latinos left on the PGA Tour and there were fewer and fewer members of my team left, so I made the decision to keep what I love in golf, this community that I stayed with in golf “, he explained in an interview with the media” El Tiempo “of his country.

In this conversation, the Colombian went even further and told about the role Niemann played in the final decision to switch sides. “The first contact occurred, above all, through Joaquín. I wouldn’t have been interested in LIV if it hadn’t been for the possibility of forming a team with my golfing friends, something I never imagined possible. It didn’t exist a year ago “, he commented.

Something that the Chilean does not hide, since a few months ago during a conversation with La Tercera he openly admitted that he wanted Mito Pereira to be part of LIV: “I would love to bring him in, I’m doing my best, but in the end it’s his decision. He commented on this media.

And on this occasion, the best Chilean golfer in history went further. He clarified that for the new league, territorial expansion is key. “The LIV Tour is a platform precisely made to be able to extend golf to all continents and not only to the United States. And that’s what motivated me the most.” exposed.

This is why the fires of this 2023 will open outside of the 50 states. LIV has decided to inaugurate the season precisely in Latin America, at the famous El Camaleón Golf Club in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

A declaration of principles which was in any case already replicated by the PGA, since several of its tournaments take place in Mexico and Central America. here are the World Technology Championship, Puerto Rico Open, Corales Punta Cana Championship and Mexico Open . Among them, yes, only the first and the last manage to have the world’s best in competition. Something that in the LIV is taken for granted, since all players must play all 14 events that are in the season.

The faces and the money are on LIV Golf’s side today, but the international presence continues to save the PGA Tour. Indeed, what the Latino golfers of the Korn Ferry Tour will achieve during this year 2023 will be very important: if they manage to win an event, they could claim to be present on the major circuit and level the balance. The Chile Open could be the key to that.