While Kipp Popert may not be doing what he knows best this week at The G4D Open he is proud to still be playing his part.
The Englishman, who has Cerebral Palsy, underwent foot surgery in January but arrived at Woburn with the hope of defending his title, before withdrawing on the eve of the tournament through injury.
Instead, the World Number One jumped at the chance to support his good friend Chris Biggins and swap clubs for a caddie bib at the 54-hole championship, held in partnership by The R&A and the DP World Tour alongside the support of EDGA.
“It was a no-brainer,” said Popert. “He is a great friend of mine.
“The fact I’m not able to play is a bad break but these are my friends. I only get to see them a handful of times a year, sadly.
"I love the camaraderie, and it is an opportunity to help a really close friend to shoot the lowest score. I know he’d do the exact same for me.
"I have probably put him in a few bad spots to be honest, but caddying is not my full-time gig for a reason!"
Since the launch of the G4D Tour in 2022, the 26-year-old has been the dominant force, winning 13 titles.
Of those, four came last season, including at The G4D Open where he held off the then defending champion Brendan Lawlor to claim victory by one shot.
“I obviously would have loved to play but I always pride myself on how I can accept good and bad breaks on the golf course, and I feel I am pretty good at accepting those in life as well,” added Popert.
“I have really enjoyed seeing everyone, it’s been really good fun.
“I am just proud that I have made the decision for my health whereas a younger Kipp would have pushed and maybe put too much pressure through my foot and been back on crutches next week.
“I want to win trophies for a long time so that is what I am [also] thinking about.”
Now into its third edition, The G4D Open is a truly inclusive championship, featuring nine sport classes across multiple impairment groups, with 80 men and women players of both amateur and professional status.
And for Popert, the event is as good as it gets in the game.
“I have played able-bodied golf,” he said. “There is nothing like this.
“Everyone has been through hardships, everyone has got their own crosses to bear, everyone is fighting hard to win, it is a competition, way more competitive than anyone would see.”
Popert is targeting a return to competitive action in time to compete at The Amateur Championship, held at Royal St George’s and Royal Cinque Ports from June 16-21.
A member at Royal Cinque Ports, has come through pre-qualifying the last three years but this time has an exemption as last year’s G4D Open champion.
Popert is hopeful the experience of being a caddie this week will help his game as a player and his own partnership with caddie Ben Armstrong moving forward.
“Maybe next time I’m playing I’ll be thinking in my head to just be a caddie," he said.
"I am excited what it [this experience] will do for mine and Ben’s relationship as a team."
