Kipp Popert, the world number one in disability golf, has made his mark once again by winning his third consecutive G4D Tour @ BMW PGA Championship title at Wentworth Club.
Displaying his incredible form, Popert cruised to a four-shot victory, cementing his reputation as a dominant force on the G4D Tour.
Entering the final round tied at the top with Irish competitor Brendan Lawlor, Popert proved exactly why he’s at the pinnacle of the sport.
A solid round of 69 brought his total to six under par, showcasing his consistency and composure under pressure.
The two leading players matched each other shot for shot on the front nine, both carding 35s on Wentworth’s iconic West Course. However, it was Popert’s surge from the 14th hole onward, with three consecutive birdies, that allowed him to pull away and claim his third G4D Tour title of the season.
This victory also adds to Popert’s growing list of achievements this year. He previously won the G4D Tour Nations Cup @ Betfred British Masters alongside teammate Heather Gilks.
With this win, Popert now boasts an impressive 12 G4D Tour titles to his name.
The final round was a see-saw battle from the very beginning. Popert jumped out to an early two-shot lead with back-to-back birdies on the first two holes while Lawlor stumbled with a bogey on the first.
Lawlor quickly recovered, picking up a birdie on the fourth, and the contest tightened up again after Popert dropped a shot on the fifth.
The two remained locked in a tight battle, trading birdies and bogeys before reaching the turn.
The decisive moment came when Popert strung together eight consecutive pars, while Lawlor’s round was a mix of bogeys and birdies.
A bogey on the 11th and another birdie on the 13th showed Lawlor’s resilience, but he couldn’t match Popert’s momentum.
When Lawlor bogeyed the last hole, Popert’s victory was secured with a comfortable four-shot cushion.
Reflecting on his victory, Popert said, “That was incredible. I felt quite a lot of pressure this week, because I would love to have won three times in a row, and I wanted to shoot some good scores.
Me and Brendan had a great battle today and yesterday. He is very close to being back to his best, it’s awesome to see and I’m really chuffed for him. I really enjoyed it.”
Popert’s admiration for his opponent was evident, yet his competitive spirit shone through. “It was a great battle – to be honest, I was just trying to hole as many putts as I could. I just didn’t want to give away the trophy.
I love winning and I love competing with Brendan. Today it went my way, and there will be times in my career when it won’t and he’ll get the victory. I’m chuffed to be standing here.
To win it three times, I’m really proud of myself for that. I work really hard, so I’m chuffed.”
For Lawlor, it marked his seventh runner-up finish on the G4D Tour. His sole victory came at the inaugural G4D Open last year, and he remains one of the most competitive players on the circuit.
Despite the result, his performance at Wentworth shows he’s still a formidable force in the game.
Meanwhile, England’s Mike Browne and Australia’s Lachlan Wood, both winners earlier this season, finished in a tie for third place at four over par, highlighting the depth of talent in the G4D field.
Popert’s journey is not just about the wins but also about the joy of competing and the support from his loved ones.
He shared, “It was awesome (to get a photo with Colin Montgomerie and my dad). My dad said Monty was coming today.
I saw him, and then on 15 I thought, hit a little baby fade into the wind and show him I can hit a little fade like him. I think I fist pumped because that’s a really difficult tee shot.”
Popert’s passion for the game remains undimmed, and he continues to have ambitions beyond the G4D Tour.
“It’s just golf, it’s a bit of luck isn’t it? I’ve been playing the G4D Tour now for a couple of years; my aspirations are to play professionally in disability golf mainly because I think that will help to grow the sport, but also in able-bodied golf.”
The 2024 G4D Tour season will conclude with the G4D Tour Series Finale @ DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, scheduled for November 15-16.
With Popert’s current form, all eyes will be on him as he looks to cap off an already outstanding year.
