Mike Lorenzo-Vera credited a refreshed mindset as he enjoyed a brilliant return to DP World Tour action at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic after a six-month absence over his mental health.
The Frenchman, who is making his first competitive appearance since the Barracuda Championship last July, carded a five-under 67 on the opening day at Emirates Golf Club.
Lorenzo-Vera spent several months away from the game, putting “the bag in the garage”, as he sought help from the DP World Tour’s medical team amid psychological pressures that were affecting him on and off the course.
Now, after slowly starting to play the game again recreationally at first, he is back among the elite and impressed over the Majlis Course in the first Rolex Series event of the year.
“I had a lot of treatment to do and resting and working a lot on my mental strength," he said of what he has done during his time away from the tour.
“Just kept the bag in the garage for like three months or four months, and I decided to restart by only making some 18 holes, 27 holes with a buggy.
“You know, nothing too hard, and not really any big practice sessions. Just play golf, find joy into the game, and it feels good.”
Lorenzo-Vera, who started in the opening group of the day off the tenth, eagled the par-five 18th to play his front nine in three under, before birdies at the second and fifth were followed by his lone dropped shot at the sixth.
A professional for the past two decades, the 39-year-old reached a career-high 64th in the Official World Golf Ranking in early 2020, shortly after finishing a career-best 19th in the 2019 Race to Dubai.
But he has struggled for a consistent spell of form since then, making one top ten last year before halting his season prematurely.
Despite his extended period of absence, Lorenzo-Vera came into the first of a stretch of events in the Middle East with optimism.
“I felt I could play some proper golf because I feel rested, and actually, the mindset was very important,” he added.
“We had a lot of chats with all the mental team, and I called my team around, and the mindset this week and for the three weeks coming is just go out there and enjoy playing golf, which was not easy the last two to three years.
“I really enjoyed today.”
