11 January 2023 , 14:25
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LIV Golf are set to renew their battle with the PGA Tour, with the Saudi-backed series set to announce their first signing of 2023. LIV lured in an array of talent from the PGA Tour in 2022, sparking a civil war within the sport between the rivalling circuits.
Ahead of their second campaign which kicks off in Mexico in February, the breakaway series is about the bring in its latest star, with the reporting that Mito Pereira is the latest player to make the Saudi switch. According to the report LIV will unveil Pereira in an announcement next week.
The move may not come as a surprise to many in the golfing world, after the Chilean star had been heavily linked to LIV Golf for a number of months.
Rumours surrounding Pereira's switch began when he was pictured alongside a number of LIV stars including Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka at a charity event in November.
Since then fellow Chilean Joaquin Niemann - who has also made the Saudi switch - opened up on his attempts to convince his fellow countryman to follow in his footsteps.
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Mito Pereira is set to be confirmed as a LIV player next week (Getty Images)As a result Niemann revealed to Chilean newspaper La Tercera that he was doing everything possible to bring Pereira to LIV, and it clearly worked. Niemann said: "I would love to bring him, I'm doing everything possible, but in the end it's his decision.
"I imagine him playing the LIV. It would be ideal for him to be on the team, but that is not yet known. I hope it is. For me, at least, it would be ideal if he was on the team. Pereira is one of South American golf's biggest stars, and currently sits 44th in the world rankings.
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Joaquin Niemann joined LIV Golf in 2022 (Getty Images)He forged his way onto the PGA Tour in 2022 after impressing on the Korn Ferry Tour, where he secured three victories. The 27-year-old then catapulted himself into the limelight last summer, when he came agonisingly close to securing a first ever major title, at the PGA Championship.
As a result, the Chilean led the tournament heading to the final hole at Southern Hills. However a wayward shot off the 18th tee saw him card a double bogey finish his tournament in a tie for third, a shot behind Will Zalatoris and eventual winner Justin Thomas who prevailed via a play-off.