Welsh golfer Richie Willis will hit the opening tee shot at the G4D Open on Friday, marking an extraordinary journey 27 years after a lorry accident nearly killed him. The 68-year-old was given just a 10% chance of survival after losing his leg and suffering severe arm injuries on the Severn Bridge in 1999. Doctors used 40 pints of blood to save him during emergency surgery.

Willis spent five months in hospital but returned to golf within a year of his release. His handicap improved from 11 to 6, defying medical expectations. He joins fellow Welsh competitor Dylan Baines, who was paralyzed in 2017 but gradually regained movement and now plays off a nine handicap. England's Lucy Leatham also competes after losing her right arm in a 2020 accident.

The G4D Open represents disability golf's equivalent of a major championship, featuring 80 players from 25 countries across nine impairment classes. Celtic Manor hosts the event for three years after previous editions at Woburn. Ireland's Brendan Lawlor and Netherlands' Daphne van Houten defend their titles, while world number one Kipp Popert challenges in the men's field.

Organized by the R&A and DP World Tour, the tournament showcases elite golfers with disabilities competing over 54 holes of stroke play. The event demonstrates how golf can transform lives after life-changing injuries, providing purpose and competitive opportunity for athletes worldwide.