Former Ryder Cup star Thomas Pieters hadn’t finished one round with young Irish amateur Brendan Lawlor before asking his father: “when is he turning professional?”
This compliment would be no surprise to Brendan’s family and friends or the many members of Dundalk Golf Club that he has brushed aside.
But it might be a surprise to some if they knew that Ardee man Brendan has a rare condition called Ellis-van Creveld syndrome – a bone growth disorder that leads to shorter limbs.
You also might not know that Brendan is ranked the third best golfer with a disability in the world.
At 6'5", Pieters towered over his playing partner ahead of the 2018 Australia Open, but like all golfers knows that size and brawn count for little in the face of the static white ball.
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Brendan told the Irish Sunday Mirror: "I think I was one under or two under that day.
"My Dad caddies for me around all these events and Thomas actually went over to him and asked 'is Brendan turning pro?'
"He was surprised when my Dad said 'no' and said 'he'd beat half the pros out here'".
Brendan admits he almost plays a different game to Pieters, who is averaging over 310 yards off the tee this year.
But if there were pound-for-pound distance rankings, Brendan, who can get it out there around 260 yards, would surely be pushing near the summit.
The 21-year-old is one of three ambassadors promoting the European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) Tour around the world and was in Liverpool last week for the prestigious British Masters.
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"I played able body golf my whole life and I was competing at a very good standard in that," he explained.
"So when I got the opportunity to play my first competition in disability golf, I did think it would be a breeze and the standard was not going to be very good.
"But then you realise these guys are scratch golfers who are hitting it 300 yards off the tee and have cerebral palsy. It's crazy stuff!
"None of us see ourselves as any different because we are all competing at a very high level against able body players.
"So one of our strengths is having the mindset that we can do what anyone else is able to do."
Brendan has ambitions to become the world's best and is getting the opportunity to tour the world with EDGA.
He played in France a few weeks ago, next he travels to Belgium and he will be involved in the DP Tour World Championship at Dubai in November.
The big dream though is for golf to be included in the Paralympics and to represent his country.
He said: "The Paralympics is the main goal in the future and the way it's going with the European Tour and other main major tours accepting how elite we are, I can see it happening.
"It maybe not in 2024 when we had hoped, but I can definitely see it in 2028 in Los Angeles.
"I'll be 31 or 32 by then but it would be the ultimate dream to play for Ireland."
Brendan Lawlor was speaking on behalf of EDGA, in partnership with online golf retailer www.golfbidder.co.uk.
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