World number one tees off at Mbombela Golf Club

The 2024 Irish Disability Golf Open champion and British Blind and Disabled Golf Open champion, Kieran McBrien (66), played a round of golf at Mbombela Golf Club on Wednesday, July 24.

McBrien and his wife, Patricia, were visiting their good friends, Zulu and Andy Cason, at Matumi Estate, and the four took on 18 holes “for fun”.

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The two couples have been close friends for 13 years, and the McBriens visit South Africa one or twice a year, always making a stop in Mbombela.

Although Kieran was born in Northern Ireland, he moved to Australia in 2006 and is a citizen of the country. He is a member of the Tallebudgera Golf Club in Queensland.

Kieran, who lives with hereditary spastic paraplegia, won the Stableford division of the Irish Disability Open with a points total of 91 on June 12.

“I have a neurological disability, but I play against guys who have no legs and are on two prosthetics, have one arm, and are blind,” he said.

“I started playing golf when I was 15. My lowest handicap was four. I had full use of my legs up until 14 years ago.”

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He plays off a European Disabled Golf Association handicap of 19.3. McBrien is currently ranked number one in the Stableford division on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability.

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Kieran and Patricia enjoy playing the Mbombela course.

“I’ve played the course seven or eight times before. It’s a great course. At the moment, it’s quite difficult because the fairways are bouncy and the greens are very receptive. If you do not hit it straight down the middle, there is a good chance of ending in the rough.”

Kieran will compete in the Jedeal Tshwane Disabled Open at Waterkloof Golf Club in Pretoria on August 12 and 13.