Golf Saudi ambassador Kipp Popert, the World Number One in the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD), will be headlining the field at the inaugural G4D Tour Nations Cup at The Belfry from August 26 – 27, 2024.

Popert, who joined Golf Saudi in 2023, is an ambassador alongside 10 other players across the Ladies European Tour, Ladies PGA Tour, and LIV Golf.

The partnership formed between Kipp, his fellow ambassadors and Golf Saudi will further improve inclusivity within golf in the region and provide Kipp with the opportunity to give back to the sport that has given him so much.

The Englishman who is a ten-time winner on the G4D Tour is diagnosed with a form of cerebral palsy, Spastic diplegia, that affects his lower body and will line up against five other nations in the first-ever mixed team event on the G4D Tour.

Popert will be joined in team England by Heather Gilks, who makes her regular G4D Tour debut this week and like Popert has Cerebral Palsy, affecting both her legs and her left arm. The 19-year-old, a 7.1 handicapper, made history this summer as she and her mother Martine became the first mother and daughter to play in the same edition of the G4D Open.

Brendan Lawlor is another player who will be familiar to most having developed an intriguing rivalry with Popert. Born with rare bone disorder Ellis-Van Creveld Syndrome, characterised by a shorter stature and shorter limbs, Lawlor was the first disabled golfer to compete on the DP World Tour at the ISPS HANDA UK Championship in August 2020.

The 27-year-old will represent Ireland alongside Fiona Gray, who has undergone ten knee surgeries following a distinguished 20-year career in the British Army, which ended with medical discharge in 2014.

Team Canada will be spearheaded by Kurtis Barkley, a G4D Tour regular who was born with scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and is yet to win on the circuit, despite finishing as runner-up seven times. Barkley will team up with Natasha Stasiuk, who lives with Autism which also includes managing an auditory processing condition.

Stasiuk and Gilks are two of five G4D Tour debutants in the field next week, alongside Mari Berkers of the Netherlands, American Eliseo Villanueva and Germany’s Rene Schwenk.

Day one will feature three groups of fourballs while the format will switch to foursomes on the second day at the famed four-time Ryder Cup venue.

The G4D Tour has this season ensured that golfers across a wider spectrum of disabilities can compete for glory with the introduction of net format events, as well as guaranteeing that two female golfers will be invited to compete in each event.

Alec Scott, Sustainability Project Manager at the DP World Tour, said: “We are proud to launch the inaugural G4D Tour Nations Cup and there is no better place to do so than at The Belfry, a venue synonymous with team golf at the Ryder Cup.

Sam Torrance celebrates after holing the putt on 18 to secure victory in the Ryder Cup at The Belfry in England. Simon Bruty

“With one in six people globally having some form of disability, we are continuously looking for new and innovative ways to grow Golf for the Disabled and launching a new team event further enhances the opportunities provided to golfers with a disability.

“We are fully committed to supporting golf’s bid to see the sport enter the Paralympics and, in addition to the introduction of net events on the G4D Tour, the Nations Cup further aligns the G4D Tour with the aims and structure of the Paralympic movement.”

Tony Bennett, President of EDGA, said: “Events like the G4D Tour Nations Cup serve as a beacon of inspiration for individuals with disabilities worldwide, demonstrating that competitive golf is not only accessible but also an arena where they can shine.

“By showcasing exceptional talent and sportsmanship, these events encourage more individuals to participate and aspire to compete on national and international stages, reinforcing the message that golf is truly a game for all.”

The G4D Tour was launched in 2022 as a partnership between the DP World Tour and EDGA, formally the European Disabled Golf Association. The G4D player pathway aims to cater for everyone with a disability who wants to play golf and for many, the G4D Tour is seen as the pinnacle of competition with competitors playing on the same course, in the same week, as the leading Tour professionals on the DP World Tour.

Due to the European Tour group’s ongoing financial support, EDGA has been able to raise awareness, confirm eligibility, organise tournaments, and deliver golf development and coach education worldwide. This has seen the number of golfers with disabilities in the World Rankings increase by 32% from 2022, with players from 46 countries represented – up from 33 the previous year.

Main Image: Golf Saudi