The G4D Tour (Golf for the Disabled Tour) star Brendan Lawlor is relishing the opportunity to play Abu Dhabi Golf Club for the first time this week, with the Tour making its debut outing at the National Course for the G4D Tour @ Hero Cup.
The new event will be played from January 13-14 and is part of an expanded calendar for the new season which consists of eight tournaments in six countries, giving the world’s leading golfers with disability the opportunity to compete on the same course on the same week as the DP World Tour professionals.
“It’s an unreal place, everything looks really good,” said Lawlor, who was born with rare bone disorder Ellis-Van Creveld Syndrome.
“We walked the course yesterday and have a practice round booked in for today. From what I’ve seen so far, it’s a really nice course. It’s a lot better being over here with the warm weather than being home in Ireland right now. I’m feeling blessed.”
As well as an increase in the number of tournaments held around the world, the 2023 season also welcomes the introduction of a season-long Order of Merit to crown the Number One player. England’s World Number One Kipp Popert, who won four titles in the inaugural campaign, currently leads the way after claiming his fifth G4D Tour win at the season-opening Australian All Abilities Championship in December.
“It’s amazing as it gives us a platform to show what we can do,” said Lawlor on the changes for 2023.
“We want to bring more people into the game, that’s our key focus. If I go back 20 years ago I never had the opportunity to see someone with my disability playing golf on TV, whereas kids now, who might be missing a limb or are shorter in stature, have something to strive towards because we are getting exposure out there for disability golf.
“We’re trying to build this Tour every year – we’d love to have events in the future with 20-30 players competing week in, week out.”
The Tour has also given Lawlor and the stars of the G4D Tour the chance to rub shoulders with some of the game’s best players, with the likes of Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Shane Lowry, Francesco Molinari and Seamus Power and all competing at the inaugural Hero Cup this week.
“We’re mixing with these guys on the putting green and hitting off the same range,” he said. “There’s a camaraderie between the G4D Tour guys and the DP World Tour pros, we’re building friendships and I think that’s important.”
The World Number Two will be joined in the field with a further five of the top ten in the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability this week, with Tommaso Perrino and Mike Browne aiming to replicate their triumphs during the maiden G4D Tour season last year.
Fans hoping to witness the drama of the G4D Tour @ Hero Cup and the Hero Cup itself can register for free general admission tickets via Ticketmaster.
