Brendan Lawlor Cruises To EDGA Dubai Finale Victory

Brendan Lawlor capped off a fantastic year with a four shot win at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

Brendan Lawlor EDGA Dubai Finale
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The 24-year-old had already claimed the EDGA Cazoo Open and the ISPS HANDA World Disability Invitational, with his victory at the European Disabled Golfer’s Association (EDGA) Dubai Finale his third of the season.

Being played concurrently with the second and third rounds of the European Tour’s season-ending Rolex Series event, the DP World Tour Championship, the young Irishman showed his class over the last few holes, birdieing the 15th and 17th for a four shot win.

Now expected to return to the Number One spot in the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD), Lawlor said: “My ball striking has been unbelievable all week. The only bad shot I hit today was on 16. I pulled that one left but I will put that down to nerves. 

"Probably tee to green, that is the best I have ever played and I also haven’t been working much on my game. I’ve been suffering from a bad shoulder for the past six weeks and haven’t been playing.

"Maybe it’s good to have a break sometimes and forget about the clubs. So, to come out this week and play well, I am really delighted.”



Brendan Lawlor EDGA Dubai Finale

Lawlor shot rounds of 70 and 73 to claim a four shot win.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Having shot a two-under-par first round, Lawlor led by two going into the final day.

However, after a level par front nine, that lead was halved to just a single shot on the 14th hole.

His nearest challenger, Kurtis Barkley , who was at two over for the tournament after the front nine, birdied the tenth to apply the pressure at the top of the leaderboard.

With Barkley at one over par, Lawlor had moved back to level, due to three bogeys and one birdie after the turn.

It was Barkley though who would slip up over the remaining holes, with bogies at the 16th and 18th resulting in a round of 75 to finish on three over par.

Lawlor, on the other hand, would birdie the 15th and 17th, either side of a bogey on the 16th, to move back to under par for the tournament, with a safe par at the last sealing a four shot victory.


With the win, the 24-year-old will receive his trophy as part of a live presentation alongside the winner of that tournament and the winner of the European Tour’s season-long Race to Dubai. 

“Hopefully the European Tour has more events next year, which I think they will, and we can keep this ball rolling, as it’s just fantastic,” said Lawlor. “I came off the green there and Rory McIlroy gave me congratulations so that is pretty outrageous. 

“I have learned a lot, and to be honest I have learned a lot since the whole EDGA events have started. Most importantly, I’ve learned to be patient. If I was in today’s situation about two years ago, I reckon I would have lost. After the few bogies I made early on, I would have lost my head.

"But I had faith in my abilities to make birdies out there and I knew I could make a few on the back nine. My Dad was very good today, he kept me calm when I needed to stay calm. It's unbelievable!"

Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x