Victor Perez shot the most memorable round of his career this past August – a back-nine 29 that nearly won him an Olympic medal in front of his countrymen at Le Golf National. Four months later, the 33-year-old Frenchman has walked away from the tour system that gave him that stage, becoming the first French player to sign with LIV Golf despite sitting #122 in the world rankings.

Cleeks Golf Club announced the signing on November 19, completing their 2026 roster with the three-time DP World Tour winner. Victor Perez joins a team captained by two-time major champion Martin Kaymer, alongside England’s Richard Bland and Poland’s Adrian Meronk. He replaces Frederik Kjettrup, who was relegated after finishing outside the top 48 players in the 2025 season.

But behind the pioneering headlines lies a harsher reality. Perez’s 2025 PGA Tour season produced just one top-10 finish in 25 events, leaving him 108th in the FedEx Cup standings with 479 points – dangerously close to losing his fully exempt status. His $1,341,741 in earnings represented a significant drop from the $2.07 million he earned in 2024.

The decision comes with a steep cost. Without OWGR points from LIV events, Perez’s world ranking will likely plummet – just as Dustin Johnson dropped from 13th to 571st and Cameron Smith fell from 2nd to 206th after joining the Saudi-backed league. LIV Golf’s application for OWGR recognition, resubmitted in June 2025, remains under review with no decision announced.

“Joining Cleeks Golf Club for the 2026 season feels like joining golf’s next great chapter,” Perez said.

To Be Continued…