Many of the world’s most talented golfers with disabilities are returning to compete in the third staging of The G4D Open this week at Woburn (15-17 May).
Established in 2023, the championship – staged in partnership by The R&A and the DP World Tour and supported by EDGA (formally the European Disabled Golf Association) – is one of the most inclusive ever held.
The G4D Open features nine sport classes across multiple impairment groups, with 80 men and women players of both amateur and professional status competing over Woburn’s renowned Duchess Course. With an age range from 18 to 79, players from 20 countries across the globe are represented, including from Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa and the USA.
Contested over three days from Thursday to Saturday and across 54 holes of gross stroke play, there will be overall men’s and women’s winners and a gross prize in each of the sport classes which cover various categories in Standing, Intellectual, Visual and Sitting.
A year on from his win 12 months ago, England’s Kipp Popert returns to defend the men’s title. The leading player on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD), who was born with a form of cerebral palsy called spastic diplegia, is fit again after foot surgery earlier this year.
Irishman Brendan Lawlor, the inaugural winner in 2023 and runner-up to Popert last year, also takes his place in a world-class field. Lawlor, who has a rare condition called Ellis–van Creveld syndrome, characterised by a shorter stature and shorter limbs, and Popert are among 12 of the world’s top 20 players competing at Woburn. Canadian Chris Willis, born with bone issues in the leg, vertebrae and hand, is also taking part again after finishing third last year.
The Netherlands’ Daphne van Houten will aim to defend the women’s crown, with van Houten among 18 women competing – an increase of seven on last year.
Seven Australian players have made the long journey over to Woburn, including the world-ranked number four Lachlan Wood, and four players from Japan. The English pair of Martine and Heather Gilks, who made history last year as the first mother and daughter duo to play in The G4D Open, again tee up.
Zane Scotland, the former Tour professional, is attending the Championship in his role as a diversity ambassador with The R&A and will support a number of off-course activities taking place during the week at Woburn to promote inclusivity in the sport. Spectators are encouraged to attend at Woburn for The G4D Open, with attendance and car parking free of charge.
The G4D Open is also an event on the G4D Tour, which is operated by the DP World Tour.
Launched in 2022, the G4D Tour includes the best ranked Gross and Net players from the WR4GD and its tournaments are played on the same course, the same week, as flagship DP World Tour events.
Media can register and access The R&A Virtual Media Centre, which will be populated throughout this week with images, video content, profiles and transcripts here.
View more information on The G4D Open here.