At the picturesque Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Switzerland, Mike Lorenzo-Vera walked off the course for the final time on Friday, concluding a professional career that spanned two decades and nearly 300 DP World Tour starts. The Frenchman had announced earlier this year that the Omega European Masters would be his last event. It provided a stage steeped in personal history and emotion.
Though he missed the cut after rounds of 72 and 73, the result mattered little. The week was always going to be more about legacy, memory, and a chance for Lorenzo-Vera to take a final bow on the international stage. With friends, family, and fans lining the fairways, the farewell was every bit as poignant as he could have hoped.
“I am feeling great,” Lorenzo-Vera said. “I have brought the family here–my kids and my mother are here, some friends are here as well. Great support.”
A Career Defined by Passion, Not Trophies
Lorenzo-Vera never captured a DP World Tour title, but his career was rich in highlights. He first rose to prominence by winning the 2007 Challenge Tour Grand Final, topping the season rankings to earn his card for 2008. From there, he became a fixture on the main tour, admired for his flair, candid humor, and ability to compete with the very best.
He came agonizingly close to glory on several occasions; finishing runner-up three times and recording a career-best tie for 16th at the 2019 PGA Championship. That same season, he featured prominently at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, going toe-to-toe with the likes of Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood. Those moments, along with his openness and charisma, helped carve out a reputation that transcended results.
Crans-Montana was always going to be a fitting final destination. In 2015, tragedy struck when Lorenzo-Vera’s father passed away at this very event. Returning a decade later for his last professional appearance carried an enormous emotional weight, but also offered a chance at closure. This time, rather than grief, the course provided a setting for celebration, reflection, and gratitude.
Surrounded by friends and family, Lorenzo-Vera described the week as “very special.” The symbolism of playing here one last time ensured that, even in missing the cut, his farewell resonated with both the golfing community and fans who have followed his journey.
Mental Health and Honest Conversations
In recent years, Lorenzo-Vera made headlines not just for his golf, but for his openness about mental health struggles. At one point, he stepped away from the game, explaining that it wasn’t an injury holding him back but his mind. By speaking honestly about the pressure and toll of professional golf, he gave visibility to issues often left unspoken in sport.
His candor earned him admiration across the tour. For many, his legacy lies not in a trophy cabinet, but in his courage to speak out, normalize vulnerability, and remind others that stepping back is sometimes the bravest step forward. That willingness to share his story has already inspired the next generation of golfers.
The defining image of his farewell came at the par-5 9th hole on Friday evening. Knowing he had missed the cut, Lorenzo-Vera was joined by his children for the emotional walk down the fairway. What should have been just another closing hole became a symbolic moment—an embrace of family, closure, and the end of an era.
Fighting back tears, he admitted afterward: “I was feeling okay until walking down the last fairway. It was amazing to have all my family here … I played badly, but it didn’t matter. It was just perfect to say goodbye this way.” The fans who cheered him down that fairway understood; it was not about the scorecard, but about celebrating a career.
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