The Link Hong Kong Open, the city’s oldest professional sporting event, is breaking new and welcome ground in 2024 with the inclusion of Kipp Popert into the championship field.
Popert is number one on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) table. His participation in the 63rd edition of the Link Hong Kong Open represents the first time a golfer with disability has been included in the tournament field, perfectly encapsulating the event tagline: Link Hong Kong Open – Open for All.
The 25-year-old amateur from England is playing on an exemption extended by The Hong Kong Golf Club, which is making history of its own in celebrating its 135th anniversary this year.
“The tagline for this year’s championship is ‘Open for All’, so we are delighted to have Kipp, who has excelled on the G4D Tour in recent times, join this world-class field at Fanling.
“His story, like those other sportsmen who compete to such a high standard despite the challenges brought about by disability, is truly inspiring and we will all be cheering him on and wishing him the very best,” said Hong Kong Golf Club captain Andy Kwok.
Popert has cerebral palsy and has had over ten surgeries to his legs and feet in his lifetime. Yet he has overcome every challenge to rise to the top of the WR4GD. Due to mobility issues as a result of his cerebral palsy, Popert will use a golf cart during play at the Link Hong Kong Open.
He has a dream of playing professionally on a global tour and the determination – and skills – to get there.
Popert has won five of the ten events on the DP World Tour’s 2024 G4D Tour, including a sweep of the three events in his home country, England, winning the G4D Open in May; the inaugural G4D Tour Nations Cup at Betfred British Masters team event with Heather Gilks in August; and September’s G4D Tour at BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Yesterday, Popert won the G4D Tour Series Finale at the DP World Tour Championship at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai with a magnificent 9-under par 135.
Popert is not only on a mission to achieve but to inspire audiences along the way, something he will hope to do on and off course in Hong Kong.
“I am very excited to be playing the Link Hong Kong Open in 2024. I relish the opportunity to continue to prove to myself and others that golfers with disability have the skills and talent to compete professionally. I look forward to visiting Hong Kong and engaging with the fans next week,” said Popert.
He also addressed the challenges he has faced in his life and golf career to date:
“It is a powerful force, being at a disadvantage at the start, because you learn that you have to work hard to achieve what you want. I think it gives you that drive and that work ethic that you can become whatever you want to be in life.
“Just because you have cerebral palsy does not mean you cannot achieve anything you want to, it just means you have got to find your way of doing it, and when you do find a way, and when you come through the setback, you’re going to be a more dominant force, including mentally.”
Popert will interact with other disabled athletes during his visit to Hong Kong and conduct clinics for the local community during tournament week.
In keeping with its Link Hong Kong Open – Open for All ethos, the tournament will again be raising funds alongside hosts The Hong Kong Golf Club for Operation Santa Claus during the tournament week.
In 2023, activities at the Hong Kong Golf Club raised over HK$1.5 million for Operation Santa Claus.
A variety of schools and community groups will again be hosted to the event and will engage with golf through The Hong Kong Golf Club and Golf Association of Hong Kong, China’s community outreach programmes.
In keeping with the event’s theme of the Hong Kong Open – Open For All, admission to the tournament is free on Thursday 21st November and Friday 22nd November, and free for the entire tournament week for fans 18 and under when accompanied with a ticketed adult or with a photo ID containing date of birth.
Season passes, including all the excitement of the final two days of tournament play on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th is HK$300 for a weekend pass or HK$200 per day. Tickets for the championship are now available, visit Klook to secure yours now.
Admission to the Link Hong Kong Open Fan Village is free by entry to the venue.
In addition to providing free parking, the Link Hong Kong Open 2024 also runs complimentary community shuttle bus services throughout the tournament from Sheung Shui MTR station, Central IFC Mall, Hung Hum MTR station and Kowloon Tong MTR station to the Hong Kong Golf Club. Please refer to the tournament website for further details.
The Link Hong Kong Open 2024 is proud of being an “M” Mark event that helps enhance the image of Hong Kong as Asia’s sports event capital. The “M” Mark awarded by Major Sports Events Committee, symbolizing intense, spectacular and signature event in the territory sports calendar.