I’ll make sure there’s prize money for you,” world No. 1 disabled golfer Kipp Popert promised 12-year-old local talent Andreas Ma after a chipping class between rounds at the Hong Kong Open last month.
Popert’s inclusion marked the first time in the tournament’s history that a disabled golfer teed off with the pros. He is also the first golfer with cerebral palsy to compete on the Asian Tour’s International Series.
Ma, a junior champion born with a congenital absence of his left hand, could be seen grinning while soaking in some of Popert’s expert tips at the range.
“It was amazing meeting Andreas. He said he was nervous, but I thought he handled it really well,” said Popert, a two-time reigning US Adaptive Open champion coming off of a commanding season on tour.
“To know that disabled children going through tough times and operations might be able to dream of being the next world No. 1 disabled golfer, or be able to achieve something they want in their life – how cool is that?”
Sharing the links with the likes of former US Open winner Justin Rose and South Korean superstar Tom Kim would be monumental – even daunting – to many. For Popert, it’s just par for the course.
That he did not have a disabled golf role model to aspire to growing up, nor a proven pathway to turn pro, meant he had to create them himself – “like I’ve done my whole life.”
“Playing against these boys doesn’t faze me at all – that’s not disrespecting them, they are incredible athletes,” Popert said.
“But I know what I can achieve. I want to be (competing) in the last group of three holes.
“Once I do finally lift one of these big trophies in able-bodied golf – and achieve more in disabled sport – it’s my mission to let Andreas and others know that they’re going to have a career. That there’s a lot of trophies to aim for when they turn pro.
“The prize money is coming, I will make sure of it. Sometimes, you have to force people to realize that – that’s just how society works, sadly.”
