An emotional Mike Lorenzo-Vera officially retired from the DP World Tour following a missed cut at the Omega European Masters on Friday.
Lorenzo-Vera, 40, was making his 285th start on the DP World Tour at the picturesque Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland.
The Frenchman carded rounds of 73 and 75 in the mountains to finish towards the bottom of the board on 8-over par.
In a heart-warming final moment, a teary-eyed Lorenzo-Vera was greeted by his two children as he walked all the way down his final hole, the par-5 9th.
“It was amazing to have all my family here but I played like s*** and just didn’t manage to go through the emotions,” said an emotional Lorenzo-Vera at the back of the 9th green.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
“I hit the ball everywhere but least was with my friends and family.
“I was feeling actually okay until walking down the last fairway but it felt great to have my family here.”
The second round of the Omega European Masters will be completed on Saturday after play was suspended due to fog for five hours on Thursday.
The halfway cut is expected to fall around 2-under par.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
Lorenzo-Vera never managed to win on the DP World Tour but he did have 32 top-10 finishes including five runner-up finishes.
He won his sole event as a pro on the lower-tier Challenge Tour at the 2007 Apulia San Domenico Grand Final.
Lorenzo-Vera took an extended break from the DP World Tour last season in a bid to protect his mental health.
He then confirmed his retirement from the game in April this year.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
Lorenzo-Vera wanted to make his final DP World Tour start at Crans-sur-Sierre because it’s where his father sadly passed away while he was on the 1st hole during the first round of the 2015 Omega European Masters.
Earlier this week, Lorenzo-Vera said: “It’s a very special week for me as I lost my Dad 10 years ago when I was here on the 1st fairway during the first round, so having my mother here is going to feel very special and having the kids here is going to be absolutely beautiful.”
Lorenzo-Vera’s career-high position in the Official World Golf Rankings was 64th, which he achieved in January 2020.
He made seven major appearances with his best result a T16 at the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage, which is of course the venue for next month’s Ryder Cup.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
Lorenzo-Vera was particularly critical of a number of European players who defected from the DP World Tour and PGA Tour over to LIV Golf in 2022.
He is expected to take up some commentary duties on the DP World Tour moving forwards, one of which is likely to come at the BMW PGA in two weeks’ time at Wentworth.
Matt Wallace
Towards the top of the board, France’s Adrien Saddier leads the way ahead of Matt Wallace, Thriston Lawrence and Jordan Smith.
England’s Wallace is not only looking to successfully defend the European Masters but also earn one of Luke Donald’s six captain’s picks on a first Ryder Cup team.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
Donald will make his picks on Monday.
VIEW LIVE EUROPEAN MASTERS SCORES
Subscribe to our Newsletter
