Lawlor headlines field for inaugural G4D Tour event at The Belfry
Brendan Lawlor. Getty Images
World Number One Brendan Lawlor headlines the field of ten competitors set for the first event of the inaugural G4D Tour season, G4D @ Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett, taking place at The Belfry from May 2-3.
The Irishman claimed back-to-back wins at the EDGA Cazoo Open and ISPS HANDA World Invitational presented by Brendan Lawlor in August last year as he moved to the summit of the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) for the first time.
Lawlor ended an unforgettable 2021 as he stormed to a four-stroke victory at the EDGA Dubai Finale, which coincided with the DP World Tour Championship, and he has now set his sights on the inaugural G4D (Golf for the Disabled) Tour event.
“This is going to be a week to remember,” said Lawlor. “We’ve worked towards a world tour for the last few years and to have the first G4D Tour event at The Belfry is going to be very special.
“On behalf of all the players, we’re all going to be raring to go. I hope to win the first one but to shine a light on disability golf again in Europe, it’s going to be huge and will bring so many more people to the game – that’s what we’re striving for. Hopefully, we can all perform as well as we can and put on a real show.”
Nine of the world’s top ten from the WR4GD will tee it up on the iconic Brabazon Course at The Belfry, including Englishman Kipp Popert and Chris Biggins of the United States, who both won EDGA European Tour events in 2021.
Popert is hoping to take advantage of insider knowledge of the iconic Brabazon Course after regularly playing at The Belfry while he was studying at the local university.
“I’m really looking forward to the first G4D Tour event,” said Popert. I went to the University of Birmingham and graduated from there in 2020. I used to do Monday lectures at The Belfry – my degree was in Business Management and Golf – so it’s really cool that I’ll be teeing it up on the G4D Tour at The Belfry, it’s come full circle.
“I’d just like to thank all my sponsors and supporters from my home club and my parents of the opportunities they’ve given me over the years. I hope to take advantage of the opportunity we have next week at The Belfry.”
Also teeing it up next week are Spaniard Juan Postigo, Kurtis Barkley of the USA, Italy’s Tommaso Perrino, Fredrik Fjaeraa of Norway, Swede Johan Kammerstad, Englishman Mike Browne and Holland’s Daphne van Houten – the highest-ranked female competitor on the WR4GD at 16th.
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, said: “The launch of our ground-breaking G4D Tour is the next stage of our journey with EDGA (European Disabled Golf Association) and we are proud to give these true ambassadors for our sport the platform they deserve to showcase their talents.
“Inclusivity in the game of golf is one of the European Tour group’s key pillars and we are very excited to see the world’s best disabled golfers take the stage on some of the world’s most renowned golf courses, starting with The Belfry, a Ryder Cup venue and a host site of nearly 20 of our own events over the years. It is set to be a wonderful two days and the perfect start to our G4D Tour.”
The tournament will take place on the Monday and Tuesday before the Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett tees off on Thursday, May 5, with competitors taking on the same layout as the DP World Tour competitors. Live scoring will be hosted on the DP World Tour’s website.
The G4D @ Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett is the first of seven events taking place on the G4D Tour in 2022, with further events being held in Germany, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Spain and Dubai.
Confirmed field for G4D @ Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett
Name Country WR4GD (Gross Rankings, Week 15/2022)
Brendan Lawlor Republic of Ireland #1
Kipp Popert England #2
Juan Postigo Spain #3
Kurtis Barkley Canada #4
Chris Biggins United States of America #5
Tommaso Perrino Italy #6
Fredrik Fjaeraa Norway #7
Johan Kammerstad Sweden #9
Mike Browne England #10
Daphne van Houten Holland #16
