One of the world’s leading disability golfers Brendan Lawlor has turned professional and today, Modest! Golf Management are proud to announce they have signed the hugely talented Dundalk golfer.
Lawlor has been making his mark around the world for several years with high profile wins and showcasing disability golf to a wider audience. The 22-year-old will now embark on a new golfing journey in the paid ranks with key support from one of the game’s leading management companies headed up by owner Niall Horan.
“We are thrilled and very proud to welcome Brendan to Modest! Golf,” said Horan. “Brendan is an incredible athlete and one of the best disability golfers in the world. He is an inspirational character and has a genuine winner’s mentality.
“We can’t wait to work with Brendan and support him in his professional golf journey.”
Lawlor was a scratch golfer who competed at an elite amateur level, representing his home club Dundalk and winning individual titles at home and abroad.
He climbed to number three in the Official World Rankings for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) and this season won the German Disabled Open and G-GOLF Knockout during the European Tour’s Belgian Knockout.
In a stellar year, he also landed the inaugural EDGA Scottish Open, 36-hole strokeplay event played over the same course as the professionals at the Renaissance Club during the Rolex Series Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open in July. The win qualified Lawlor to become the first disability golfer to tee it up in a European Challenge Tour event when the ISPS Handa World Invitational Men | Women, presented by Modest! Golf took place at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort.
“I have enjoyed a very successful amateur career and believe this is the right time to turn professional. I am delighted to have signed with Modest! Golf and am very excited for what lies ahead,” said Lawlor.
“Niall, Mark (McDonnell) and all the team at Modest! Golf have been hugely supportive and through golf we’ve become great friends. I can’t wait to see what the next chapter of my career will bring and I look forward to getting the best support and advice from Modest! Golf.”
He joins a growing and impressive stable of players at Modest! Golf that includes Italy’s Guido Migliozzi and South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who have already won on the European Tour, while Connor Syme and Jack Singh Brar have enjoyed Challenge Tour success. Ryder Cup star Tyrrell Hatton and leading Irish players, Leona and Lisa Maguire, are also represented by Modest! Golf.
In a drive for greater inclusivity, the European Tour joined forces with the European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) to provide opportunity at events such as the Rolex Series Scottish Open and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai in November where Lawlor is qualified to play.
The European Tour have plans for a full European Disability Tour by 2021 and next season players like Lawlor will get the opportunity to compete in Australia, Dubai and Europe where he will represent Ireland and disability golf.
Lawlor was born with Ellis van-Creveld Syndrome, a rare bone growth disorder that leads to shorter limbs. For years he competed at the top level of amateur able-bodied and disability golf but is now ready to make the transition with the promise of greater playing opportunities in the coming years.
“I know the European Tour and Keith Pelley are hugely supportive of disability golf and the prospect of a new World Tour by 2021 is very exciting. There are lots of great things starting to happen for disability golf. Inclusion is everything and it’s fantastic to be accepted,” added Lawlor.
As Lawlor embarks on his professional career, he will also be supported by key sponsors; allianz Ireland, Srixon, ISPS Handa and adidas Golf.
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