Kurtis Barkley is confident it is just a matter of time before he is lifting silverware as he chases an elusive G4D Tour title at the inaugural G4D Open this week.
The Canadian, who was born with scoliosis, has finished runner-up in his last three starts on the G4D Tour and is one of the leading golfers with disabilities on show at Woburn.
The G4D Open, held in partnership with The R&A and DP World Tour and supported by EDGA, will see a field of 80 male and female players tee it up over the Duchess Course from Wednesday to Friday.
Fourteen of the world’s top 20 all abilities golfers are teeing it up – with 19 countries represented – and Barkley is excited to be in with a chance of claiming the trophy for Canada.
Swing your swing 💪
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 8, 2023
The G4D Open takes place at @WoburnGC this week. pic.twitter.com/vZCsOuVMod
“It's a great honour to represent my country and to come over here and challenge a course like this,” he said after flying into England on Monday.
“Winning would be an extra, extra bonus. I'm just happy to be here and compete.
“I believe I've got about six seconds right now. It's just a matter of time to climb to the top.
“I'm just playing my own game, one shot at a time, one hole at a time, and if it happens, it happens.”
The stroke play gross competition is one of the most inclusive ever staged, featuring nine sports classes across Standing, Intellectual, Visual and Sitting impairment groups.
“It's great,” he said. “We are all competitors and players at first, and with all these different types of disabilities, when other players are watching other players, you know, it's inspirational to see how other people manage it.
“When you've got tour pros watching you, sitting back and go, look at this guy smash his ball, it's great to have that aspect of it.”
The G4D Open marks the fourth event on the expanded second season of the G4D Tour, with future events to be held at world-renowned venues such as Wentworth Club and Jumeirah Golf Estates.
“Golf to me is a mindset,” added Barkley. “When I'm out here competing, I'm not thinking of my disability.
“I'm one of everyone else. I'm here to just get the ball in the hole.
“We all do it differently. We all have different kind of disabilities. It's just managing the course and trying to take less shots than the other guy.”
