Golf is open to all
The G4D Open
Lawlor and Moore chase G4D Open success
09 May 23
3 mins
Brendan Lawlor and Kim Moore are among elite golfers with disabilities from across the world targeting success in the first-ever G4D Open, which starts tomorrow.
A field of 80 male and female players representing 17 countries have assembled to compete over the Duchess Course at Woburn, including eight from the top-ten from the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD). The championship, held in partnership between The R&A and the DP World Tour and supported by EDGA (formerly the European Disabled Golf Association), will be one of the most inclusive ever staged, featuring nine sport classes across multiple impairment groups. Tee times and the full field can be viewed on The R&A website and spectators are welcome to attend The G4D Open free of charge.History in the making
Ireland’s Lawlor, ranked second in the world standings behind Kipp Popert, is a multiple winner on the EDGA Tour and has competed regularly on the G4D Tour in DP World Tour events. The 26-year-old professional is relishing the chance to shine on the big stage at Woburn and said, “It's huge, the first one ever. To put your name on that trophy, to make history to be the first one to do it, that would be the biggest thing for me. My game is in a good place and, mentally, I feel good too, so I feel like I could go well this week.” Popert added, “It’s an open field this week and there's a lot of other people that could come through and win. My granddad would say, ‘Press on’. It doesn't matter if I shoot a 62 or a 73. The next day, it's the same thing. It's what am I doing today and how am I bettering myself. I think I'm one of the best in disability golf at focusing on the shot at hand.” Leg amputee Moore, 42, has travelled from the USA for the chance to add The G4D Open title to the US Adaptive Open she won at Pinehurst last year.
Kim Moore - USA 🇺🇸
“It should be a great week here. The golf course is great and I’m just really excited to be part of the first championship. It’s nice to be part of history.”
Excitement
“It’s very exciting,” said the American, who plays off a golf handicap of 2.3 and has qualified to play in the G4D Tour Scandinavian Mixed next month. “It should be a great week here. The golf course is great and I’m just really excited to be part of the first championship. It’s nice to be part of history.” Juan Postigo Arce, another favourite this week who played in the Celebration of Champions on the eve of The 150th Open last summer, performs superbly with one leg since birth. The 27-year-old added, “I’m from the same area in Spain as Seve Ballesteros and he inspired not just his generation of European players, but worldwide players. I’ve always been inspired by him and want to do well this week, to play my game as good as I can. With the support of The R&A and the DP World Tour anything is possible (for this championship) and having the first major on European soil is going to be great.” Amateur and professional golfers will contest the 54-hole stroke play gross competition across the sport classes which cover various categories in Standing, Intellectual, Visual and Sitting. An overall winner will be determined at the end of the three rounds, along with an opposite sex winner and a gross prize in each category.
Kris Aves - England 🏴
“I've heard so much about it and, looking at the player list, I'm in awe of probably all 79 other people. To get a place in the championship and to play at Woburn is a dream come true.”