Why Pat Perez Knew He Wouldn’t Receive His Hero World Challenge Invite

Pat Perez is a refreshingly honest free spirit. And, he appeared to find his game last season winning the CIMB Classic and pocketing $4.3 million.

But with that honesty comes some reasonable awareness of what happens when you speak your mind about one Tiger Woods. Golfwrx.com’s Ben Alberstadt relays a piece from AP golf writer Doug Ferguson about why Perez knew he wasn’t receiving an invite at Tiger’s Hero World Challenge event last December.

Back in February, Double P, if you’ll recall, had this to say about the Big Cat on his radio show. Woods had withdrawn from the Dubai Desert Classic.

“He knows he can’t beat anybody. He’s got this new corporation he started so he has to keep his name relevant to keep the corporation going. So he’s going to show up to a few events, he’s going to try to play…he’s going to show the Monster bag, he’s going to show the TaylorMade driver, he’s gonna get on TV. He’s got the Nike clothes, he’s gotta keep that stuff relevant.”

“He was on the range in Shanghai when the topic of the Bahamas tournament came up. Perez had just won in Malaysia to move to No. 18 in the world. Dustin Johnson, hitting balls next to him, wasn’t aware that the cutoff to qualify for the World Challenge through the world ranking was a month earlier.

”You’ll get in,” Johnson said.

”No chance,” Perez replied.

Johnson insisted, and so Perez turned and asked an observer, ”How many players are listed in the world ranking?”

He was told about 1,900 players.

Perez turned back to Johnson and said, ”There are 1,899 players who have a better chance of getting in than I do.”

Eh, more like 1,897. Perez would’ve gotten the nod ahead of Vijay Singh and Stephen Ames.

Perez prediction was spot on as Tiger and Daniel Berger received the final two slots.