One of the greatest honours of Cian Arthurs’ life has finally arrived as he gets set to lead Team Europe against the United States of America in The Fightmaster Cup this week (17th – 19th of September), played at his home club of Roganstown & Swords.
The Fightmaster Cup is a match-play golf tournament involving players from North America and Europe. It is an event for golfers who use one arm only, marking the first international tournament in history for one-armed golfers. The Cup is named after Don Fightmaster, described by Time magazine as “an Arnold Palmer of the one-armed golf world”. The tournament is contested between one-armed golfers from the North American One-Armed Golfer Association, formed in 2000, and the Society of One-Armed Golfers, formed in 1932 and based in Glasgow. The inaugural event in 2008 was held just before the Ryder Cup, at The Cardinal Club in Simpsonville, Kentucky, near Louisville.
The USA won the inaugural edition, but a period of European dominance followed, in which Arthurs played a significant role. However, the Stars and Stripes will arrive in Dublin as defending champions after a comprehensive 19.5–8.5 victory in Kentucky in 2023. While talk of a playing captain surrounds Keegan Bradley ahead of this year’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, there are no doubts about Arthurs’ role at Roganstown, where he aims to lead from the front as a playing captain.
This is the first time the tournament has been held in Ireland.
“It’s brilliant, it’s absolutely amazing,” Arthurs says of the honour of being named captain of the European side for the three-day event. “The feeling when you put on the European shirt with the flag on it—for us, it’s the pinnacle of one-armed golf to play in this. I’ve been lucky enough to captain the team this year.
“I’ll be a playing captain, so I have a couple of non-playing vice-captains who will keep an eye on things, but it’s an honour to bring it to Roganstown in Ireland this year. First and foremost, I’m a player, but at the moment, it’s about drumming up some sponsorship. Once the tournament starts, it’s just golf. We lost the first one in 2008 and won them all until Kentucky last year, where we were soundly beaten, so I’m looking to put a strong team together to win that trophy back from the United States.”
Roganstown Hotel & Country Club
The top four players from this year’s World One-Armed Golf Championships have earned automatic selection for both Team Europe and Team USA, but Arthurs had a deep pool of talent to choose from, with disability golf and one-armed golf numbers on the rise.
“Each year, we have World Championships for One-Armed Golfers. We’ve amalgamated with EDGA. The Society of One-Armed Golfers is 90 years old, and many of its founders were post-World War survivors. The numbers are growing towards where we need to be. We take the top four gross players from the World Championships, then you have your captain’s picks.”
Arthurs hopes to rally plenty of Roganstown & Swords members to support the Europeans and make the week a complete dream so feel free to come out and support the team.
“When I was asked to do it, I couldn’t believe it. There are many players with more experience than me. I think I have a firm head; I’m fair but also ruthless. If it’s not working, it’s not working, and you’re not going to play. You have to be—I’m fairly competitive, so you need that edge to ensure the best combination. It’s an absolute honour and something I’ll remember for the rest of my life, especially if we get the win.”
The Europeans will be favourites with home advantage, but the USA boast the best player of the 24, Jesse Florkowski, the star man on show. Arthurs salvaged a half point against him in a previous edition and would love another crack at him.
“The USA have the best player, Jesse Florkowski; he’s a professional who can shoot under par on any day. He’s a fantastic player. I played him before, and we halved the match, so I still hold that close to my heart. It’s so nip and tuck with players—it’s great. You have to see it and watch it to fully appreciate how it works; it’s unbelievable.
Roganstown has become central to Irish disability golf, having hosted the ISPS HANDA Irish Open for Players with a Disability for the last three years. Arthurs, a popular member, feels the golf course, combined with the hotel facilities, makes it the perfect venue to showcase disability golf.
“Everything you need is on site—ten minutes from Dublin Airport for the US team, a swimming pool, great food in the bar, and the course is magnificent. We’re spoilt with the greens here; they’re always in pristine condition. Brendan Lawlor said they’re the best greens he’s putted on.
“The course is quite flat, so for players in wheelchairs or those who struggle to walk, we have flat bunkers and few hills, yet it’s still a great test of golf. It’s the perfect place to play. It’s tough because you need to ensure the course is ready, the hotel is sorted for the lads, tee times are booked, gear and buggies are organised for the players. Kitting the team out in gear costs a few grand, so sponsorship is vital. It’s hard work, but it has to be done.”
Golf has taken a back seat for Arthurs over the last couple of years, with the birth of his twins happily occupying his time. However, after encouraging performances at the ISPS HANDA Irish Open for Players with a Disability and the World One-Armed Golf Championships, he feels ready for action in September.
Disability golf has been transformative for Arthurs, who lost his right arm in a lawnmower accident when he was just two years old. An Irish international and two-time world champion, Arthurs would love to add the Fightmaster Cup to his CV as a winning captain.
“This was a good stepping stone towards that. I’m going to try to play as much as I can. The lads are a bit older now, and hopefully, in the next few years, I’ll have them alongside me on the course with little clubs. My family is the priority at the moment—the best thing that’s ever happened—so golf has taken a back seat recently, but I’ll play as much as I can.
“It’s fantastic. Just after the boys were born, I was picked to play for Ireland in the European Championships. I don’t know how I managed it; I was playing poorly, but I arrived at the trials and somehow made the team. It was an absolute honour. Winning the World Championships twice was unbelievable, including here at Roganstown a couple of years ago. It’s amazing to be able to do these things.
“Growing up, I played a range of other sports, but when I started playing golf, I never imagined I’d be a two-time world champion, represent my country, and my continent. To do it all is unforgettable—it’s fantastic.”
While Arthurs has been a prominent figure in disability golf, he credits Brendan Lawlor and Kipp Popert for growing the game rapidly in recent years and hopes that doors will finally open for golf to be included in the Paralympic Games.
“It’s thanks in no small part to trailblazers like Kipp Popert and Brendan Lawlor, who showcase what disabled golfers can do. They’re a testament to disabled golf; it’s only going one way, and that’s up. The more people see it, the bigger it’s going to get. It’s great to be part of this generation pushing disabled golf forward for the next one coming through—they’ll have great opportunities, and hopefully, the Paralympics comes around for them.”
Although he is now 32 years old, Arthurs still holds out hope that he might one day be a Paralympian—so much so that he has saved a spot on his left arm for an Olympic rings tattoo.
“That’s the goal. It’s always been a goal. To be a Paralympian would be absolutely amazing. Ask any golfer in Ireland, and it’s the top tier. If it does get in and I’m still within touching distance, I’ll be working hard to be there, definitely. Being a Paralympian would be the pinnacle for me. Once golf was a success in the Olympics, it should move the ball forward for the Paralympic committee to come to their senses.”
