Elite Golfers With Disabilities Prepare For G4D Open

The inaugural G4D Open takes place this week at Woburn, with Brendan Lawlor and Kim Moore among the international field of elite golfers with disabilities who are competing in the event.

A field of 80 male and female players representing 17 countries have assembled to compete over the Duchess Course, 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.

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.

(Brendan Lawlor - Image Credit: The R&A)

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.”

Leg amputee Moore, 42, has travelled from the USA for the opportunity to add The G4D Open title to the US Adaptive Open she won at Pinehurst last year.

“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.”

(Kris Aves - Image Credit: The R&A)

Kris Aves, who last year played a round with Golfshake Ambassador Andy Picken, said: “It’s unbelievable to be here. To be part of the team here, having the DP World Tour and The R&A supporting, The G4D Open is a phenomenal championship. 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.”

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.

The establishment of The G4D Open follows on from the inclusion of the Modified Rules of Golf for Players with Disabilities into the Rules of Golf from the start of this year and The R&A and USGA’s on-going administration of the WR4GD.