Julian Perico is determined to make the most of his opportunity at this week's Rolex Grand Final supported by The R&A after playing his way into the season finale right at the death.
The Peruvian had not been in the all-important top 45 on the Road to Mallorca all season as he headed to the Hangzhou Open for the penultimate event of the campaign but a runner-up finish in China catapulted him up to 27th and earned an apprearance at Club de Golf Alcanada.
Now he has the chance to reach the top 20 and earn a DP World Tour card in what would be the next step in a remarkbale golfing journey for a man from a country with just five golf courses.
He studied at the University of Arkansas where he became a star with the Razorbacks and in 2021 became the first Peruvian to play in the Palmer Cup on an International side that also included fellow HotelPlanner Tour player Hugo Townsend, 2025 DP World Tour winner Eugenio Chacarra and another DP World Tour player in Alex Fitzpatrick.
He revealed in an interview with the HotelPlanner Tour in the summer that he was reluctant to come to the Qualifying School but after securing a rookie season on Tour, he is now looking to take that next step, although he will not let success or failure define him.
“I always tell myself I haven’t come this far to just stay here," he said. "I know where I can perfom in the world of golf and I just try to hold myself to a very high standard and at the same time not take it too seriously.
"I work really hard at having the score not define who I am. I believe I’m a way cooler dude and a way better person than whatever 64 or 65 could show on a scorecard so I put that first and the golf will follow."
Perico arrived in China two weeks ago 67th in the Rankings, with four top tens to his name on the season so far.
He then went 67-67-67 to share the lead after round three and revealed that some advice - and an unorthodox reminder to stick to his processes - from friend and fellow Grand Finalist Palmer Jackson inspired his fine form.
“Last week, it kind of seems like it happened overnight but I believe that it’s just a week that has been evolving for the whole season so I was able to accomplish my goals which weren’t performance related," he said.
“I had a thing with Palmer that if I didn’t do my pre-shot routine perfectly in every shot I’d have to eat a bowl of oatmeal and I can’t eat oatmeal at all, I’ll throw up, so I just made sure that I did that at all times to not have to do that. I actually keep reminding myself that on the golf course and he kept texting me that.
"It’s weird because when you haven’t had a result like that in the whole year - I did have a bunch of top tens and made a bunch of cuts and played well a couple of Fridays to sneak in the cut - you feel like you have to play perfect golf to have a chance to win on the last hole or in a play-off and you really don’t.
“Palmer and I had a one-to-one conversation and he said, ‘dude, you don’t need to hit it good to win. You can have a chance next week without hitting it your best’.
“I really focused on the things I needed to do to play well and although I didn’t hit it my best I thought really properly out there. Is my game in the best shape ever? Not really. But do I believe that I’m thinking way better on the golf course and controlling my emotions better on the golf course and having a clearer process on the golf course? Yes. That’s a momentum I’m carrying on with me.
“I wrote everything down on the flight back to the US after China so I’m just going through those notes and trying to get in that zone again. What made me have a good week last week wasn’t really my game, it was more my mind and my determination towards every shot.
“I’ve learned a lot about myself. I hadn’t been in contention for like two years at a golf tournament and I was honestly so nervous warming up for the final round last week. I showed up to the first tee and hit it 70 yards left and told myself laughingly ‘I’m glad I got that out of the way’. I made a nice bogey on the first hole and then went bogey-free the rest of the round.
“I just learned that I can do it, it just didn’t happen but I try to tell myself that it just wasn’t meant to be last week and I just need to keep stacking the days and doing my job and being very diligent with that and eventually it will happen. One day I am sure it will happen."
A win this week would certainly get the job done but he does not require that to become the first Peruvian to hold a DP World Tour card.
With that in mind, the 25-year-old is happy to let his week play out after what he admits has been a testing season.
“It feels pretty good (to be here)," he said. "The whole year I felt like my game was kind of there, in a position to be here, I just hadn’t had the results. I was struggling really to find some motivation at times on the golf course.
“I just had a tough year emotionally and mentally. It’s my first year so I've got to be easy on myself and understand that it’s a year that we all learn a lot: different countries, different courses, different conditions. It definitely feels rewarding to be here.
“I’m very proud of what I did to get here. Just one more good week and I’m on the DP World Tour. I know the good Lord has a good plan for me and all I need to do is work hard and try my best and that’s what I’m going to do this week, I’m really not too worried about it.
“Nothing changes for me. A lot of guys bring their coaches and stuff and it’s a huge week but I always tell myself it’s 18 holes. Normally it’s 14 fairways, a couple of par threes, hit the ball and find it and hit it again.
“It’s a very big deal but at the same time you don’t have to put more to it. I just want to have a good time and enjoy it. Ten days ago I was 67th in the Rankings and now I’m 27th. The bug comes flying into my head a little bit about DP World Tour but I’m just going to try my best out there and enjoy it.”
