Back in the Swing

Professional golfer and Scottsdale resident Pat Perez returns to the PGA Tour

By Kaylor Jones / Photos by Claudia Johnstone / Location: The Silverleaf Club

After nearly a year and a half away from the sport, Scottsdale-based professional golfer Pat Perez is making his comeback. It’s about time, too – the break was the longest he’s gone without playing since he was in elementary school.

Perez, whose family moved to San Diego shortly after he was born in Phoenix, first started accompanying his dad to the golf course when he was 3 1/2 years old. It was a fitting introduction for someone who remains a family man to this day.

“My oldest memories of actually playing golf were when I was around 7 years old, when I began in the San Diego Junior Golf program, which was one of the best in the country,” Perez says. “Back then, for me, golf was just a fun sport – it kept me out of trouble and I really enjoyed it.”

Perez went on to play all four years during high school, winning the Junior World Golf Championships during his junior year in 1993. After graduation, he earned a full-ride golf scholarship to Arizona State University – his chance to not only play at a higher level, but also to return to the state he was born in.

“It wasn’t until mid-college, where we won the National Championship in 1996, that I realized I could possibly continue on with golf professionally.”

From that moment on, Perez never looked back. In 515 career starts, he secured 64 top 10 finishes and three PGA Tour wins – including at the milestone 50th anniversary Bob Hope Classic, hosted by Arnold Palmer.

“Like in any field, success takes a lot of determination, sacrifice, discipline, dedication and hard work,” says Perez, who still looks back fondly on one of his favorite memories from this stage of his career.

“When my dad, Tony Perez, got to announce me at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course. My dad has been a starter for that tournament for 41 years. It was a real full-circle moment for me because I used to work at that golf course all during high school, so coming back to play there as a professional was a real highlight.”

The Comeback King

Now, after a break of over a year and a half, it’s time for Perez to make his return. He was reinstated by the PGA Tour in January of this year and – having turned 50 in March – is taking the Senior PGA Championship by storm. Then, in 2027, he’ll be eligible for the PGA Champions Tour.

“It feels incredible to compete again. I was away from it long enough to miss it and to fall in love with the grind of it all again. Golf, unlike other sports, is a game that can be played professionally for decades. Looking at it from a longevity perspective, this means staying on top of your game, health, mobility, and mindset. All of those factor into maintaining a long career in golf.”

All in all, Perez spent 19 months away from the sport, including eight months in which he didn’t so much as touch a golf club. His break has left him with a renewed passion and a full tank of gas as he looks forward to playing every event he can. Things are coming full-circle, too – Perez will have the chance to play with golfers he first competed alongside over 20 years ago, right at the start of his professional career.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back to a full playing schedule in 2027 on the PGA Champions Tour. Going beyond, I feel grateful that the PGA Tour has a 50-plus tour for guys like me who want to continue competing. It’s like having a second chapter of your career. I’ll play for as long as I feel healthy and competitive!”

Looking back, there will always be areas for improvement – deep down, plenty of pro athletes wish they’d won more, and Perez is no exception – but the full picture of his career so far is one of perseverance.

“I did work hard, grind it out every year, make the necessary sacrifices – and I kept my PGA Tour card for 20 years straight, which is not easy to do. I’m proud of that.”

Happy at Home

Though he couldn’t be more excited and grateful to get back on the green, Perez reflects fondly on his time off, which felt like a “midlife reset” of sorts.

“I’ve never had that kind of time off in my entire life! I got to spend a lot of quality time with my love, Britten, and the kids – daughter Piper, 7, and son Paxton, 4. Just enjoying the simple aspects of parenthood like making breakfast, packing lunches, driving the kids to school and extracurricular activities – all of the fun ‘dad’ moments of having young kiddos.”

Though he and his family make frequent visits to see his dad in San Diego, Perez has firmly put down roots in the Valley, having bought a new house last year. He finds Scottsdale a great place to live thanks to the weather, incredible mountain views and wide selection of restaurants. But contrary to some people’s assumption that he’s a bit of a party guy, Perez is really a homebody at heart. In his free time, he’s most often found organizing his Jordan shoe collection, riding his Peloton – “trying to keep this 50-year-old body moving!” – or golfing with his friends at Silverleaf Country Club – the best golf club in America, if you ask him.

But when it comes down to it, at home with his family is where he feels most content.

“My life revolves around Britten and the kids. I know it sounds cliche, but everything I do is for them. It’s nice to be at a point where my relationship and home life are phenomenal. It makes going to work so much easier when you have a clear mind, knowing you have a loving, supportive partner at home.”

And just as gratifying is the knowledge that his children are right there cheering him on.

“Being a dad is my favorite role of all. Watching my kids grow into these creative, smart and funny little humans is unmatched to anything I’ve accomplished in my career. I’m looking forward to bringing the whole family to my next tournament in July, at the U.S. Senior Open in Ohio. It’s going to be an epic week having my kids out there on the course now that they’re old enough to understand what Daddy does for a living.”