Tournament Preview
Chris Biggins is targeting a place alongside England’s Kipp Popert in the Dubai Finale of the EDGA European Tour as the American tees it up at this weekend’s EDGA Cazoo Classic, the final of four qualifying events which have entertained and inspired during the UK Swing.
Biggins, who has cerebral palsy, finished in a share of second at last week’s EDGA Hero Open to boost his hopes of qualification to the EDGA Dubai Finale, which will run alongside the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai – the final Rolex Series event of the year – at Jumeirah Golf Estates on Friday and Saturday, November 19-20.
Biggins’ is just another one of the remarkable stories that have come from the opening four events of the EDGA European Tour. A PGA of America professional who is the head of a junior programme in Country Club of Birmingham, Alabama, Biggins is also an extremely accomplished Alpine Skier.
The 29-year-old is delighted to be battling it out amongst some of the best disability golfers in the world and at a prestigious venue such as London Golf Club.
“It’s such a blast being out here,” he said. “It’s a totally different world to where I grew up and where I live now. This course is unbelievable, there is not a blade of grass out of place. I just love being here, it’s a fantastic test. The weather is a lot different, it’s a great environment to play golf and to compete in.
“My world ranking right now is nine and I’m hoping to bump that up to number one some day.”
His real end goal, though, is to inspire young generations of golfers with disabilities and prove they can make it right to the top of world golf.
“I teach golf in Birmingham, Alabama and I am on the junior board for United Ability which is an organisation which helps out kids and adults with disabilities, so I’m able to see some of the people there and teach them golf and show them how golf can help,” he said.
“I teach a lot of junior golf and they can see how those golfers grow, how they adapt and how to learn from them and I am inspired by them, so I try to grow the game through juniors and the disabled. We’re not just good golfers with disabilities, we’re good golfers period out here.
“It gives me purpose, when I’m out on the golf course I’m just like everyone else, whereas when I’m out walking the streets I’m clearly a disabled person. But when I’m on the golf course I’m more talented than most and that’s something I can be proud of, just like many others who can play golf when life might give them a bad hand and they might not think they are physically able to do something. But golf is an avenue for them to do that and be impressive.”
The EDGA Cazoo Classic will tee off on Saturday morning, before the first tee time of the Cazoo Classic, and will be played on a slightly shortened course layout, with otherwise the same conditions and pins as the stars of the European Tour.
Popert’s win at the EDGA Hero Open meant that he secured his place at the EDGA Dubai Finale. Already qualified from the first qualifying section of the EDGA European Tour were Brendan Lawlor, Tomasso Perrino, Felix Norrman and Mike Browne after their performances at the EDGA Cazoo Open and ISPS HANDA World Disability Invitational.
Scoring for the EDGA tournaments features on the European Tour’s website and App for fans to follow, while the tournament world feed broadcast will also feature updates across the weekend, with the winners also part of the main prize-giving ceremonies.
Rankings after the 2021 EDGA Hero Open:
| 1 | Kipp POPERT (ENG) | 143 | 24 |
| 2 | Adem WAHBI (BEL) | 155 | 16 |
| 3 | Chris BIGGINS (USA) | 155 | 16 |
| 4 | Kurtis BARKLEY (CAN) | 157 | 10 |
| 5 | Masato KOYAMADA (JPN) | 160 | 8 |
| 6 | Vincent HELLY (FRA) | 169 | 6 |
| 7 | Petri TAKKUNEN (FIN) | 172 | 4 |
| 8 | Tero Tapani PELTOLA (FIN) | 175 | 2 |
‘Golf for Good’ is the umbrella name for the European Tour’s overarching Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. It involves three main pillars:
Support for Worthy Causes: Which embraces all the charitable activity of the original 2020 Golf for Good initiative
Sustainability: Which embraces the Green Drive focus around our tournaments
Inclusivity and Health: Which embraces our Golfers with Disability and golf for all messaging, in addition to promoting the wider health benefits of the game
EDGA European Tour Schedule
EDGA Cazoo Open – The Celtic Manor Resort (July 24-25)
ISPS HANDA World Disability Invitational presented by Brendan Lawlor – Massereene and Galgorm Castle (July 31 – August 1)
EDGA Hero Open – Fairmont St Andrews (August 7-8)
EDGA Cazoo Classic – London Golf Club (August 14-15)
EDGA Dubai Finale – Jumeirah Golf Estates (November 19-20)
