Further history will be made on the G4D Tour next week when the circuit for golfers with a disability visits Africa for the first time at the G4D Tour @ Magical Kenya Open.
Ten of the world’s best golfers with a disability will tee it up next week at Muthaiga Golf Club, with the two round tournament taking place before their DP World Tour counterparts compete on the same layout. The event will be contested on Monday February 19 and Tuesday February 20.
The field of eight men and two women are set to compete in the third event of the 2024 G4D Tour season, which will also be the second Gross tournament of the campaign after last month’s G4D Tour @ Ras Al Khaimah Championship was played with a Net format.
World Number One Kipp Popert faces stiff competition in his bid for an unprecedented ninth G4D Tour title, with seven fellow top ten players on the Gross Ranking division of the World Ranking for Golfers with a Disability (WR4GD) also competing, as well as the Dutch pair of Daphne van Houten and Marcella Neggers. Van Houten is the leading female player on the WR4GD, and her compatriot Neggers is the fourth-highest ranked female.
“It will be the first time I’ll have played golf in Africa,” said Popert. “I didn’t think I’d ever get the opportunity, so I’m really excited to experience Kenya, the golf course and soak it all up. It’s going to be a great life experience.
“I’ve been doing a lot of training in Australia. It has been extremely productive, especially over the last three weeks. So I’m feeling really good about my game at the moment.”
Former winners on the G4D Tour competing next week include Ireland’s Brendan Lawlor, Spaniard Juan Postigo Arce, Tommaso Perrino of Italy and Englishman Mike Browne. Also joining them is Lachlan Wood, the latest player to join them in the winner’s circle after claiming victory on home soil at the Australian All Abilities Championship.
“It’s fantastic that the G4D Tour is going global,” said Lawlor. “The more eyes we get on the game is huge, especially for getting more people into the game either in the Gross or the Net divisions. It’s important we grow both sides of the game.
“I’m really looking forward to competing again and getting out on the course and seeing the guys again. I’m also excited to see the wildlife; I’ve watched Magical Kenya Open on television the last couple of years, it looks quite scenic and enjoyable to play.”
Going in search of a maiden title will be America’s Chris Biggins and Kurtis Barkley of Canada, who are third and fifth respectively on the WR4GD.
Neggers will be making her G4D Tour debut, while van Houten will be teeing it up on the G4D Tour for the first time since 2022.
“I am very proud, but mostly happy that EDGA and the DP World Tour are giving us a platform to showcase our sport,” said van Houten. “It has always been a goal for me to inspire others to pick up the great game of golf, no matter what your ability is. I feel honoured to showcase the game of golf to others.”
Live scoring from the G4D Tour @ Magical Kenya Open will be available on the DP World Tour website, with further coverage across the DP World Tour’s social media channels.
