Report: Tom Pernice Jr. accused of multiple instances of domestic violence by ex-girlfriend

PGA Tour and Champions Tour veteran Tom Pernice Jr. stands accused of multiple instances of domestic violence by his ex-girlfriend, according to Sports Illustrated.

MaryAnn O'Neill detailed multiple instances of alleged domestic abuse from Pernice, 62, who is accused of punching O'Neill in the leg, striking her with a cell phone and grabbing and twisting her wrists.

O'Neill, now 41 — an independent sports marketer from Boston who also worked to find sponsorship deals for PGA Tour events — started a relationship with Pernice in March 2015.

She shared texts to Sports Illustrated that documented one of the alleged incidents  and submitted a recording in which Pernice allegedly admits to hitting her.  O'Neill had previously filed a police report but not pressed charges against Pernice stemming from a 2018 in which she accused him of striking her with a cell phone and bruising her arm.

After an incident in 2021 following the Regions Tradition, O'Neill sent the PGA Tour an audio file that she recorded on her phone during a trip from one tournament site to another. O'Neill said it wasn't the first time she informed the Tour of Pernice's violent behavior. Pernice  served a 30-day suspension — reduced from 90 days on appeal — last summer and attended anger-management therapy.

He currently faces felony charges for intimidation against O'Neill in Massachusetts, and Pernice's attorney said  a Sept. 29 hearing is scheduled on a motion to dismiss all charges. Pernice, who won twice on the PGA Tour and six times on PGA Tour Champions, continues to compete.

Joel Schuchmann, senior vice president of communications, told SI in a statement that the PGA Tour doesn't disclose specific disciplinary action but  does take "allegations of domestic violence very seriously."

"In matters involving potential criminal activity, we immediately offer assistance in bringing forward the complaint to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and action," the statement said. "We also take appropriate action based upon our own investigation, including - but not limited to - suspension from tournament play as well as resources and treatment, such as mandatory counseling. Furthermore, we may take further action based upon any findings by law enforcement and/or the outcome of any criminal proceedings."

Pernice's attorney, Patrick Donovan, sent a statement to SI that read in part: "Tom Pernice vehemently denies ever being abusive in any way, either physically, verbally or financially to Ms. O'Neill. Since their breakup [in the summer of 2021] Ms. O'Neill has proven herself to be a liar and a thief hell-bent on destroying Mr. Pernice. … She uses a distorted version of the facts to only ruin Mr. Pernice and financially benefit herself all for breaking up with her.""

In June, O'Neill first reached out to SI to share her story. "I realize that I am a textbook case for domestic violence," she said. "Not just cycles [of abuse] and the decision I made that people who haven't been in the situation don't understand. Why did you keep going back to him? But I am also a victim in terms of not being taken seriously by people, in this case the PGA Tour, that could have stopped it. … So that's why I am opening up."

To read the full version of the SI story, click here.