Kipp Popert Shines on DP World Tour Debut at Austrian Alpine Open
Kipp Popert, the world's best disabled golfer, made his much-anticipated debut on the DP World Tour at the Austrian Alpine Open after the G4D (Golf For Disabled) Tour was put on hold. The Englishman, who has cerebral palsy, has an impressive record with 15 wins on the G4D Tour, including triumphing at last year's G4D Tour Series Final in Mallorca. Popert has reached significant milestones, notably qualifying for the R&A's Amateur Championship at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 2022. Since then, he has risen to No 1 in the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability after winning four G4D events in 2025. At the Austrian Alpine Open, Popert faced a competitive field, including Sepp Straka, James Morrison, and Brandon Robinson-Thompson. Notably, Yanhan Zhou set an early lead with an impressive eight-under 62 in the first round. In his opening round, Popert struggled initially, finishing three over par after nine holes. He fought back with two birdies but ended with a five-over-par 75. His putting stood out, especially with a long-range birdie on the 12th hole and another on the 16th. His last G4D Tour appearance was in May at the G4D Open, where he finished tied for seventh. The postponement of the G4D Tour was a blow for Popert, who expressed that it affected his livelihood. The DP World Tour confirmed its commitment to hosting the annual G4D Open and a G4D Ryder Cup match later this year. Popert also hosted the Kipp Popert World Invitational in Kent, emphasizing the need for financial support for disabled golfers. He stated, "Players at the highest level of any disabled sport should be being paid," highlighting the importance of visibility and support for athletes with disabilities.
Source: Sky Sports - 2026-05-28