Corey Pereira Achieves Emotional Victory One Year After Wife’s Passing

Almost a year after the passing of his wife, Leah, due to cancer, golfer Corey Pereira achieved an emotional victory at the PGA Tour Americas’ Mexico Championship.

“Without golf, I’d likely be stuck in my room all day feeling sorry for myself,” Corey, 31, shared after his win on Sunday, June 7, emphasizing how much the sport has aided him during his grieving process. “Golf has given me a reason to go outside, something to strive for. That’s been crucial for me. I definitely have tough days when I don’t feel like playing, which complicates things. Honestly, I’m glad I won, but it aches to think she’s not here to celebrate alongside me. She was my closest companion.”

Leah was diagnosed with soft-tissue cancer in October 2022, entering remission four times over the subsequent three years, only for the cancer to return with each bout. Leah passed away on June 22, 2025, at the age of 28.

This victory marked Corey’s first win at a PGA Tour-sanctioned event in eight years. “The last three years have been tough,” Corey admitted.

He even attributed a touch of divine influence from his late wife in helping him claim the title.

“I sliced my tee shot on 18, it hit a tree, and miraculously landed in the fairway,” Corey remarked with a grin. “It’s those little signs that make you reflect when you lose someone special. Just being on that 18th green, thinking of her and wishing she could be here. It was incredibly emotional.”

Just two days before Leah’s passing was publicly announced, Corey shared one last update on social media.

“Sadly, her cancer has progressed beyond the point of manageable treatment with multiple symptomatic recurrences in her lungs,” he posted on Instagram. “Leah is currently at home with her immediate family, focusing on comfort and peace in hospice care.”

Corey disclosed that Leah endured “32 cycles of chemotherapy, over 50 radiation treatments, and explored countless alternative therapies, seeking every clinical trial available.”

“As both a husband and caregiver, this journey has been filled with so many emotions that I can’t fully encapsulate in one post,” he continued. “The reality of the highs and lows is simply beyond comprehension. You’re devastated that the person you love the most is in pain. You feel selfishly angry that you have to go through it with them. Yet, above all, you feel perpetually helpless. These emotions have lingered with our family for two and a half years.”

Corey concluded, “Leah sends her love to all her family and friends. Lastly, I want to emphasize that Leah was a healthy 25-year-old former collegiate track athlete when she received her diagnosis. Cancer can affect anyone. If something seems wrong, get it checked out and never hesitate to advocate for yourself.”