Joakim Björkman, the former European disabled golf champion, has joined Swedish-based player management company P4M Golf Management as he seeks to further his playing career and use his position in the game as an ambassador for disability golf.
Born with achondroplasia, which has restricted his height to 4ft 4in, the 30-year-old Swede has enjoyed a brilliant golfing career to date, winning Sweden’s national title before going on to European and World Championship success. He has so far claimed 34 career wins, including four consecutive Italian Open victories.
After turning professional last year, and securing a playing category on the Swedish Golf Tour at Qualifying School shortly after, Björkman continues to demonstrate that he can compete at all levels of the game and is currently finalising a 2021 schedule that will include both disabled and able-bodied golf events.
Marc Potter, CEO of P4M Golf Management, said: “It is a sincere privilege to work with Joakim. I had the pleasure of meeting him long before we were involved in athlete representation and his talent and application back then left a long-standing impression on me. In today’s society, people with determination provide such a source of encouragement for others and we look forward to helping Joakim fulfil his aspirations both on and off the course.”
The introduction of a world ranking system for disabled golfers in 2018, the EDGA’s shared tournaments with the European Tour in Scotland and Dubai, and plans for a fully supported disability tour in 2022, have all helped pave the way for many of the world’s disabled golfers to play golf on a bigger stage. They have also given Björkman, and many other golfers with disabilities, the motivation to take their game to the next level.
Talking about his decision to join P4M Golf, Björkman said: “I am profoundly grateful that I was able to find someone in Marc with the competence and willingness necessary to share my professional golf journey. I look forward to working with P4M Golf to help bring much-needed attention to disability golf.”
