Retired DP World Tour golfer explains shock return at Omega European Masters

Former DP World Tour golfer Mike Lorenzo-Vera has come out of retirement to play in one event.

Lorenzo-Vera bid an emotional farewell to professional golf 12 months ago at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland.

The Frenchman, 41, was reduced to tears as he walked the final hole of his career alongside his two children.

After more than two decades and 285 appearances on tour, Lorenzo-Vera decided to retire to spend more time with his family.

He had also been open about his struggles with his mental health since the pandemic, and walking away from professional golf ultimately brought him a sense of relief.

However, he is back in the field for the 2026 edition of the Omega European Masters after New Zealand's Daniel Hillier withdrew with an injury.

Lorenzo-Vera told Sky Sports' Josh Antmann during round one coverage that he was only in the area to visit his girlfriend when he received a phone call asking if he wanted to become the first reserve.

He joked that he wanted to quit the sport altogether, but said he has played plenty of golf this summer after his girlfriend took up the game.

"Back at it," he said, adding that he felt sorry for Hillier as he knows the Kiwi needs the points more than him. 

Lorenzo-Vera is playing the first two rounds in the Swiss Alps alongside former Masters champion and current Race to Dubai leader, Patrick Reed, and young prospect Jayden Schaper.

Lorenzo-Vera's career

Lorenzo-Vera played his first full season on the DP World Tour in 2008.

He enjoyed the best season of his career in 2019, finishing runner-up twice before pushing Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood all the way at the DP World Tour Championship.

His career subsequently went into decline, and he took an extended break from the sport in 2024 to focus on his mental health. 

He returned the following January but ultimately felt it was time to walk away.

"I could have said my wrist hurts but it was just the brain that was hurting," he previously told the DP World Tour's official website.

"It's important [to talk], because I received a lot of messages saying what I said was what they were living.

"It just gives the advice to maybe speak to someone.

"I don't know why but you can have a broken arm, but you can't have a broken brain.

"It feels like a weakness, but I think on the contrary. If you have a broken brain, it is because you are very brave to push really hard."

Lorenzo-Vera never won on the DP World Tour, but recorded 32 top-10 finishes, including five runner-up finishes.

He won his sole professional title on the lower-tier Challenge Tour at the 2007 Apulia San Domenico Grand Final.