The best blind golfers in the world will take aim at TPC Sawgrass at the 2022 ISPS Handa Vision Cup.
The event is scheduled for Sept. 18-22, 2022, and although it is a year away there already seems to be buzz in the air about playing at such a world-renowned course.
Vision Cup committee chairman Paul McCormack is excited a relationship with TPC Sawgrass has been developed and believes it is the most marquee venue the Vision Cup has been to.
“It’s the biggest event in blind golf worldwide,” McCormack said. “The fact that the United States was hosting it, I like to aim high.”
Not only did McCormack aim high, but he hit the bullseye on the target.
“It’s a bucket list course, and we are so privileged to be able to play it,” McCormack said.
The past two Vision Cups have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the last one being played in 2019 at Portmarnock Links Golf Club in Dublin, Ireland.
After some time off, the tournament has lined up a grand way to welcome itself back to the golf world.
According to McCormack, he reached out to Matt Borocz, head golf professional at TPC Sawgrass, and the two began having a conversation.
“It came about quickly,” McCormack said. “It’s not just an opportunity to promote blind golf, but blind sports as a whole in America.”
McCormack is legally blind after losing his sight because of the fumes he was around while assisting in the search and cleanup efforts following the 9/11 terrorist attacks as an investigator with the New York Police Department.
“Losing your sight can definitely halt your life,” McCormack said. “It can be a lonely place, but golfing is good for the mind and body.”
He had played a lot of golf prior to going blind, but he noticed he was having trouble seeing the ball and he was slowing down the guys he played with.
According to McCormack, he thought his days of playing golf were over until he found out about blind golf about six years ago.
Now he is not only the Vision Cup’s committee chairman, but he has also won the 2016 and 2017 U.S. Open Blind Golf Championships and the 2017 British Open Blind Golf Championship.
“You’ve got guys playing out there that can drive the ball 250 yards,” McCormack said.
The tournament format will be like the President’s Cup, which pits teams against each other with a combination of foursome and singles play.
McCormack also plans to hold his annual Ground Zero 360 fundraising golf event in September 2022 leading up to the Vision Cup.
“It’s all about keeping the memory of those who died alive,” McCormack said.
Although the events are more than a year away, McCormack urged the importance of finding help within the community to make them both successful endeavors.
To find out more about how to get involved send an email to paul.mccormack@groundzero360.org.
