Brendan Lawlor, a leading figure in disability golf, hopes that his Irish Invitational event, which offered a prize fund of nearly £30,000, will “get the ball rolling” for the future of the sport. The event, held at Carton House in Co Kildare, showcased some of the world’s best golfers with disabilities, aiming to raise the profile of disability golf and promote it as a mainstream sport.
Lawlor, 27, who competes on the Golf for the Disabled (G4D) Tour, has been instrumental in pushing the sport forward. The G4D Tour, operated by the DP World Tour, was launched in 2022, and Lawlor sees the introduction of significant prize funds as key to its growth.
“We needed someone to start this and prove that we are athletes, training just as hard as top golfers like Rory McIlroy, even with limitations,” said Lawlor. He also emphasized the importance of inspiring young people with disabilities, stating, “I want kids in hospital beds to see a future in golf, where they can compete at a high level and earn a living.”
Lawlor, who has Ellis-van Creveld syndrome, a rare bone growth disorder, has been a trailblazer in disability golf. In August 2020, he became the first disabled golfer to compete on the DP World Tour, playing at the UK Championship. Despite being told that large prize funds in disability golf were a long way off, Lawlor took the initiative to create this event, hoping to set a precedent for the future.
While the tournament was won by England’s world number one Kipp Popert, Lawlor’s efforts to elevate the sport were widely recognized. Popert, who has spastic diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy, praised the event and the opportunity it provided, despite his amateur status preventing him from claiming the prize money.
Lawlor’s vision for disability golf is ambitious: “We’re trying to turn disability golf into what the PGA Tour and DP World Tour are. When people see prize funds, it will motivate them to push harder and believe in their potential.”
