Since its launch in 2022, the G4D Tour has provided a platform for remarkable sporting talent to showcase their skills, while having an incredible impact on growing participation.
Now into its third season, the upcoming event at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, in conjunction with a PGA TOUR tournament will mark another terrific milestone in its development.
After already staging its inaugural Net tournament, an initiative to enable a wider spectrum of disabilities to compete for glory, and making its first visit to Africa, the newly announced event will create another piece of history.
That is something that Brendan Lawlor, who has played an integral role in helping highlight the inclusive nature of golf, is using to fuel his desire to mark the sport breaking more new ground with individual success.
“It is going to be another chance to make history in the sport by winning an event like that,” said the Irishman.
“I feel I perform the best when there is something new to do in the game. I think it is going to be a special week.”
I feel I perform the best when there is something new to do in the game - Brendan Lawlor
Lawlor is of course alluding to becoming the first golfer with a disability to compete on the DP World Tour in 2020 and more recently winning the inaugural G4D Open at Woburn last year.
Set to take place on Monday and Tuesday, 29-30 April, the G4D Tour event on US soil is in a large part the result of the Strategic Alliance between the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour, with the top eight males and two females in the gross World Rankings for Golfers with a Disability to feature in a stroke-play format.
Lawlor added: “Obviously we have done some amazing work on the DP World Tour over the last couple of years and we wanted to break onto the PGA TOUR.”
“I was very fortunate to play with Jay Monahan, commissioner of the PGA TOUR, and Keith Pelley, [the former] Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, three years ago at Sunningdale to talk about the future of disability golf.
“It took three years to get to where we are now and now the PGA are starting to embrace what we do now. I think this is going to be a huge step forward for the game.”
While Lawlor, ranked second in the gross World Rankings for Golfers with a Disability, is one of the most recognised golfers with a disability, there is one man who is currently setting the benchmark in the sport.
Kipp Popert won his ninth G4D Tour title in Kenya in February as the World Number One proved a class apart, registering a five-shot win at Muthaiga Golf Club.
Reflecting on the consistent performances Popert has displayed, Lawlor said: “I have to take down Kipp somewhere so…
“We need guys like him to lead the game and show people that just because there is a difference in life doesn’t mean it can stop them from shooting some silly scores.
“I think if you put Kipp in this field [on the DP World Tour] this week he could do pretty well because there wasn’t a huge difference between the two courses that we played and the guys on the DP World Tour are playing.”
Popert, himself, was thrilled to see the hard work he has put into his game in the past month while competing alongside able-bodied professionals in Australia.
“I have been pushing myself and playing against extremely tough competition out there so had a kick up the bum," he said.
“I have got high hopes for my career, and I am just really pleased with how I played this week.”
Both players continue to drive each other further and serve as a big inspiration to the next generation of golfers with a disability, with events like the one to come in the United States pivotal in ensuring the G4D Tour continues to go from strength to strength.
