Brendan Lawlor claims historic G4D Open win at Woburn

Modest Golf Management client Brendan Lawlor saw off Kipp Popert in a tense final-day tussle to complete a wire-to-wire victory at the inaugural G4D Open at Woburn.

The Irishman, who has a rare condition called Ellis–van Creveld syndrome, characterised by a shorter stature and shorter limbs, carded a closing three over par 75 to finish the 54-hole championship on three over and claim a two-shot victory.

The leading two players in the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) lived up to their billing over the Duchess Course all week, with Lawlor recovering from a slow start in the final round to hold his nerve in a tight finish and make history.

World Number One Popert, who began the final day one shot adrift of Lawlor, closed out with a 76 as a bogey on the 18th ended the Englishman's hopes of a sixth G4D Tour title in 2022/23.

For Lawlor, the World Number Two, it marked a return to the winner's circle after three runner-up finishes on the G4D Tour following its launch last year.

"It's been unbelievable," said Lawlor, who turned professional in 2019 and made history by becoming the first golfer with a disability to compete on the DP World Tour in 2020.

"It hasn't really sunk in yet. I've put so much hard work into my game the last few months, and it's been trending really well.

"I just couldn't get it over the line last year, so it's been a while since I've been in the winner's circle, and I'm proud of myself just to get it done. Really happy."

A field of 80 male and female players representing 17 countries assembled to compete at Woburn, including eight of the top ten from the WR4GD.

Fellow professional Popert, who was born with a form of Cerebral Palsy called Spastic Diplegia, was delighted to have played his part in the momentous event, held in partnership between The R&A and the DP World Tour and supported by EDGA.

"It was great fun," he said. "I mean, this is the first-ever Open, and to be in contention, and I played really well.

"So Brendan deserves it, and I couldn't be happier for him."

Players from eight countries or territories were represented in the top ten places to illustrate the field's international flavour.

Asked to sum up the week, Lawlor added: "It's been incredible. The volunteers, the R&A, DP World, everybody involved has put in Trojan work to get this event done, and I can't imagine how much money it costs, as well.

"For every player here, we felt like royalty this week.

"Hopefully this is the start and we're going to have many more of these."