Kipp Popert has attributed his fairy-tale success in the G4D Tour at the ongoing Magical Kenya Open at Muthaiga to heavy training over the last three months.
Popert proved a class apart as he underlined his status as the world’s leading golfer with a disability by cruising to his ninth G4D Tour title.
“I was very keen to make my first visit to Kenya special. Before the event, I trained for three months trying to perfect my swing and putt. The essence was to end my first visit to Kenya on a high,” said the Englishman, who was born ten weeks prematurely with cerebral palsy.
“I have honestly enjoyed every second of my two days on this course. I also enjoyed a tricky course which I was able to adapt to, in record speed,” Popert added.
The Englishman opened the two-round event at Muthaiga with a five-under-par 66 and followed it up with a 69 on Tuesday to finish five shots ahead of nearest challenger Australia’s Lachlan Wood.
It is the first G4D Tour title Popert has won in the 2023/24 season and the first victory on the circuit’s maiden visit to Africa means he has now won across three continents, having previously won in Europe and Australia.
Playing alongside Australia’s Wood, the G4D Tour’s previous Gross winner at the ISPS Handa Australian All Abilities, Popert mixed five front-nine birdies with two blemishes to hit the turn at eight under par.
With Wood unable to exert any pressure on Popert, the World Number One could afford to drop shots at the tenth and 12th and still hold a three-shot advantage.
That remained the case until the par-five 18th when Popert made his 13th birdie of the week to finish at seven under as Wood closed with a bogey.
Major champion Brendan Lawlor carded a 74 to finish solo third at two over, one shot better than American Chris Biggins.
Prodded to explain his worst hole, Popert noted: “The Par 3 second was a nightmare. Its tight and shot nature made it difficult for me more so on the first day, where I did a double bogey. All in all, 13 birdies in two days was a great way to debut this historic course.”
The G4D Tour is scheduled to resume its campaign with the second edition of the G4D Open at Woburn Golf Club from May 15-17, when Lawlor will defend his title.
