Former LIV Golf player Pat Perez surged into contention at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open Championship on the Kings Course at Gleneagles in Auchterarder, Scotland.
He positioned himself near the top of the leaderboard ahead of the final round.
Perez turned 50 in March 2026 and applied for PGA Tour reinstatement in late 2025 after leaving LIV Golf's 4Aces team following the 2024 season.
His reinstatement carries a suspension from PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions events through December 31, 2026.
Independent senior major championships remain his sole competitive golf outlets this year.
The three-time PGA Tour winner opened his week with a bogey-free, 5-under-par 65 in Thursday's first round.
After a 75 on Friday, he rebounded with a 3-under 67 on Saturday to reach 3-under for the tournament.
That secured a tie for sixth place heading into Sunday's final round.
Perez acknowledged his limited competitive action after making his opening 65, which marked only his ninth tournament round of the entire calendar year.
"I had not played much this year," Perez said. "This is only my ninth tournament round.
Any time I play, I start off-season again, so I never really know what's coming."
Perez made his senior debut at the Senior PGA Championship at Concession Golf Club, where he tied for fifth place.
He followed that with a tied-for-eighth finish at the U. S.
Senior Open at Scioto Country Club earlier this month. He then traveled to Scotland for the year's final senior major.
Reflecting on his third-round 67 at Gleneagles, Perez expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete in senior major events while awaiting full reinstatement.
"I've played three majors this year. It's so nice to be back.
I didn't think there was ever going to be a path for me to get back," Perez told reporters.
"It was frustrating, it's so fun to be back out here and playing again, and I'm really excited.
I can't explain — I've been playing well.
The courses aren't as long so I'm able to get in spots that I haven't been in a long time."
Perez also discussed adjusting to links-style golf, a format he had previously struggled with throughout his career. "I'm enjoying it and learning as I go.
I can't explain it. There's bogeys everywhere.
I made a ton yesterday.
I don't know, just kind of hitting it where I need to and just trying to plot around and thinking a little bit different, maybe.
It's fun. This kind of golf here, I've never really figured out how to do it," Perez said.
Perez referenced advice from Sir Nick Faldo regarding tactical patience on links courses. "Like Faldo said last week, it's strategy.
It's hard when you don't really play — I haven't played over here since Birkdale," Perez said.
"It's a great course and I'm just having a blast this week and just kind of taking what's coming."
Perez remains focused on January 1, 2027, when his suspension ends and he becomes fully eligible to play a full schedule on the PGA Tour Champions.
That eligibility is based on his 66th position on the PGA Tour all-time money list with $28.8 million in career earnings.
"I've been grinding. I've been playing a lot at home.
But every day is like a new day," Perez said. "Like I can't wait to get into a groove next year, but it's really been fun."
