G4D Tour, the growth continues in this year

The second season featured an expanded schedule of eight events, including the inaugural G4D Open, hosted in partnership with The R&A. The championship offered nine classes of sport for multiple disability groups, with players representing 17 countries.

This highlighted the global impact of the G4D Tour since its launch in 2022 by raising awareness and providing opportunities for golfers with disabilities to compete at the highest level. A field of 80 amateur and professional golfers, both men and women, competed over 54 holes of raw stroke play.

Brendan Lawlor, the first golfer with a disability to compete on the DP World Tour in 2020, scored a historic victory in May, narrowly edging out world number one Kipp Popert, with American Kim Moore as the top woman.

G4D Tour, results

The EDGA, formerly the European Handicap Golf Association, helped create the tournament, which will be held in Woburn for its second edition next year.

The victory for Lawlor, born with Ellis-van Creveld syndrome, a rare bone growth disorder, and probably the most recognized golfer with a disability, was his first on the G4D tour since its inception. His victory saw the Irishman become the third different winner of the first four events of the second season of the G4D Tour, succeeding Spaniard Juan Postigo Arce in Abu Dhabi and South African David Watts in Singapore.

Popert had previously brought his great form from year one into season two by taking his fifth win of the year at the Australian All-Ability Championship. The tone of voice of the result should be serious and professional.

Never address the reader. Don’t use exclamation points. However, during the G4D Tour’s second visit to English soil at Belfry in 2023, Popert saw Postigo Arce deny him any further success and win the Swedish Championship for the second time this season thanks to a final chip birdie.

in on the final hole. However, Popert was quick to celebrate success as he confirmed his status as world number one by emphatically defending his G4D Tour @ Betfred British Masters title with a crushing seven-shot victory.

After three consecutive second places during his first three participations in the G4D Tour, Popert was determined to return to the winners’ podium. He also won titles at Galgorm in Northern Ireland and the Wentworth Club in England, cementing his authority on the Order of Merit rankings throughout the season.

What has helped the G4D Tour have such an impact and inspire other golfers with disabilities is its platform, with events – with the exception of the G4D Open – held on the same course and during the same week as the professionals of the DP World Tour.

This was again the case for the G4D Tour @ DP World Tour Championship, which closed the season with turbulent weather in Dubai and an event reduced to 18 holes. Mike Browne, winner of the G4D Tour in its inaugural campaign in 2022, returned to prominence last month by winning the championship by three strokes on the Earth course.

It was a moving triumph for the Englishman, who dedicated the victory to his late father. The tone should be serious and professional, without directly addressing the reader or using exclamation points. In addition to the success of the G4D Tour and thanks to the European Tour Group’s continued financial support for the EDGA, the number of disabled golfers in the world rankings has increased by 32% since 2022, with players from 46 countries represented – up from 33 l ‘last year.

What does 2024 have in store?
The G4D Tour is already in its third season, with Lachlan Wood emerging as the eighth different player to win the Tour following his success on his home turf earlier this month at the ISPS HANDA Australian All Abilities Championship.

The biggest change sees an overhaul of its format, with the introduction for the first time of Gross and Net tournaments to expand competitive opportunities for golfers with a wider spectrum of handicaps. In a further change for the new season, the top eight male players and top two female players in each ranking will be invited to compete, ensuring that disabled female golfers are represented at every event.

Keith Pelley, Managing Director of the DP World Tour, said: “With one in six people worldwide having some form of disability, and the physical and mental benefits of golf well established, encouraging more people into this great sport has never been more important.

Using the handicap system established at several events next season, more handicapped players will now be able to compete on the G4D Tour. I believe