adidas Golf has signed Brendan Lawlor, the current fourth-best player in the world rankings for golfers with a disability, to its tour staff.
Born with Ellis van-Creveld Syndrome, a rare disease that affects bone growth, Lawlor forged a successful amateur career across both disability and able-bodied competitions before making his European Tour debut in 2020 at the ISPS Handa UK Championship.
Along with supporting his career as a professional, adidas will be working with Lawlor on his efforts to attract more people to golf, including him in marketing activations, along with supporting his career as a professional.
“Brendan shares our same passion and ambition in making golf a more inclusive sport,” said Andrew Law, managing director adidas Golf EMEA. “We see him as a great champion for the sport in that regard because he truly is an amazing athlete.”
Having already showcased his ability with victories at the German Disabled Open, the G-Golf Knockout and the EDGA Scottish Open, Lawlor is blazing a trail for those who play the sport with a disability.
“To sign with adidas is something that I have dreamt about since growing up and watching my heroes such as Sergio Garcia and Dustin Johnson wearing the three stripes,” said 23-year-old Lawlor, who hails from Dundalk in Northern Ireland. “I am so proud to represent the brand as I travel the world competing and doing all I can to promote disability golf. adidas is a company of incredible principles and morals and I cannot thank them enough for supporting me.”
Lawlor is also represented by player management company Modest! Golf, another group on a mission to not only grow the game, but also make it more inclusive.
“I am delighted that a global brand like adidas has recognised that collectively the sports industry must do more to offer inclusivity, and the signing of Brendan shows the intent the brand has,” said Niall Horan, co-founder of Modest! Golf. “adidas as a business have already done so much in supporting sustainability and now to support an incredible ambassador for disability golf in Brendan is incredible.”
Lawlor will be playing across multiple golf tours in 2021, including the EDGA, European and the Challenge Tour.