Photo via Yahoo Sports

Before the trophy, he looked to the sky: Corey Pereira's long road back from grief to a KFT card

Corey Pereira’s emotional journey toward a PGA Tour card reached a defining moment this season, as he secured his spot on the Korn Ferry Tour for 2026 after finishing second in the PGA Tour Americas points race. His breakthrough included six top-five finishes, a playoff loss, and a standout win at the Mexico Championship in June, where he hoisted his first professional title at La Hacienda Golf Club in Mexico City.

Yet even in victory, Pereira’s thoughts were elsewhere—he paused before celebrating to look toward the sky, honoring his late wife, Leah Bertuccelli, who had been his greatest supporter and passed away from cancer in 2022 at age 28. Their bond, forged during his college years at the University of Washington, had sustained him through the highs of amateur success—including wins at the NCGA Junior Amateur, Pacific Coast Amateur, and California State Fair—and the challenges of a professional career that briefly paused as he prioritized her care during her battle with rhabdomyosarcoma.

Pereira’s resilience, from his early days at Sacramento’s Cameron Park Country Club to his first Korn Ferry Tour win in 2017, now carries him closer to a dream once shared with Leah, who remained his anchor until the end.

Up nextGolf· 2h ago

TGL expanded rosters include Brooks Koepka, 20 of top 50 in world