Popular tour star announces shock retirement

After 20 years as a professional, Mike Lorenzo-Vera has decided the time has come to call it a day.

Mike Lorenzo-Vera has never been one to shy away from the big decisions.

The Frenchman has been a mainstay on the DP World Tour for almost 20 years. And, although he never managed to get over the line on the European circuit, he has been one of the more popular players in that time thanks to his incredibly likeable personality.

But now, at the age 40, and precisely two decades on from turning pro, Lorenzo-Vera has decided to call time on his career.

The decision comes just months after he took an extended break from the game to concentrate on his mental wellbeing.

Using Instagram to confirm his retirement, Lorenzo-Vera wrote: “To my fans, I decided yesterday to stop my golfing career.

“20 years with highs and lows. So much fun and tears. This game is insane. And I love it! It’s the best!

“I would like to thank all my fans, my family, my friends, everybody that worked with me, every sponsor that helped me, and course the DP World Tour family, and all the players and caddies.

“Special thanks to the man that gave me the passion, Jean Lamaison, the sand wedge wizard. And special thanks to four of my idols: Jose Maria Olazabal, Fred Couples, Davis Love III and, of course, the boss, Tiger Woods.”

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Although his only European Tour win came on the second-tier Challenge Tour in 2007, Lorenzo-Vera finished runner-up five times in the top division, as well as three third-place finishes and 24 other top 10s. He also played in seven major championships, where his best outing was a tie for 16th at the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage.

He will retire having banked just shy of $7 million.

“It was fun, it was hard, it was fantastic. But I can’t do that anymore. My priorities have switched.

“I will play one last tournament at Crans Montana in August. It’s a very special place for me.

“Merci, gracias, thank you.”

There wouldn’t be a dry eye on the continent if Lorenzo-Vera went to Crans-sur-Sierre and came back down the Swiss mountains with that European Masters trophy.