Kip Popplett, 28, from the United Kingdom, holds the top ranking in adaptive golf. Popplett, whose exceptional performance in his prime draws parallels to golf legend Tiger Woods (USA), secured his fourth straight win at the esteemed US Adaptive Open, the leading event in adaptive golf.
Popplett claimed victory at the fifth US Adaptive Open, which took place at Woodmont Country Club in Maryland, USA, on July 9 (Korean time), finishing with a total of 18-under-par 198 strokes. He outperformed South Korean golfer Lee Seungmin, who has a developmental disability and is 29 years old, by six strokes. The event, initiated by the USGA (United States Golf Association) in 2022, groups participants into eight different disability categories, such as visual and intellectual impairments. The competition spans three rounds, awarding champions within each category as well as an overall winner. This year, 96 competitors from eight countries took part.
Popplett is the first man to claim a USGA-organized individual tournament four years in a row. He broke Tiger Woods’ previous record of three straight victories in the US Junior Amateur (1991–1993) and US Amateur (1994–1996). Popplett delivered strong performances each year, securing wins by four strokes in 2024 and 12 strokes in 2025. This year, he recorded a final-round score of 63 with outstanding putting. “I was thinking about making history with a fourth win and really wanted it,” Popplett mentioned. “I’m very proud of all the hard work I’ve put in.”
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child, Popplett went through 12 leg and foot operations. Born 10 weeks early, he had stiff leg muscles and misshapen feet. Even after surgeries, physical therapy, and injections during his school years, he stated, “I just wanted to be really good at golf, perform under pressure, and win competitions.” He committed himself to golf, practicing up to 15 hours daily. His father, a physician, told CNN, “Popplett had great hand-eye coordination. He had the ability to keep going and never gave up.”
Popplett deeply valued his grandfather’s advice, “press on,” and continued to move ahead. “No matter if I score an 8 on the last hole, make four straight birdies, or have difficulty walking the course because of foot pain, I will keep moving forward,” he stated. Excited about chances to demonstrate his abilities, he added, “I truly want adaptive golf to continue progressing and hope to contribute. I want the next generation to have more opportunities than we had.”
Lee Seungmin, the first men’s champion in 2022, once again came in second for the fourth straight year, this time behind Popplett. As a professional golfer who participates in both standard and adaptive competitions, Lee stated, “My aim next year is to win back the US Adaptive Open title.” Young golfer Heo Dokyung, who has a developmental disability and is 18 years old, finished tied for 24th place at 13-over-par.
In the women’s category, Kim Moore, 45 years old from the USA, secured her third US Adaptive Open title (12-over-par), after winning in 2022 and 2025. Born without her right foot, Moore participates in the competition with a prosthetic leg. Kim Sunyoung, a golfer with a developmental disability and 26 years old, finished in second place at 18-over-par. Kim Sunyoung, who stands 178 cm tall, developed a positive and energetic personality after taking up golf as an after-school activity in sixth grade.
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