A 6-year-old who was born with only one arm beat professional golfers in a one-arm swing-off at the PGA Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida earlier this week.
Tommy Morrissey took up golfing at age 3 and has been golfing ever since, People reported. On Tuesday, Tommy and his parents, Joe and Marcia Morrissey, promoted their family nonprofit called unLIMBited, which raises money to help children with limb differences fulfill their dreams.
“It’s fun to win!” the kindergartner told People after he beat golfers like Harris English during the competition. “I get to beat the pros.”
Tommy’s dream is to one day play the sport professionally. His father said he was “born” to play golf.
“We try to foster as much support as we can with Tommy and give him the skill sets necessary to compete physically and mentally in a two-handed world, Joe said. “It just so happens my son has a strong love for the game of golf!”
Meeting new friends at the #onearmchallenge #jupitermedical #unLIMBited https://t.co/vCYiKn9Yb6 pic.twitter.com/e7aMWY1Liz
— Tommy Morrissey Golf (@onearmgolfer) February 21, 2017
Tommy was born without his right arm due to an interruption that occurred when he was developing in the womb, which caused the limb to not grow below the elbow. The condition likely occurred due to a blood clot, Joe said.
Tommy Morrissey doing his best Arnold Palmer pic.twitter.com/Qhvt7xkg5f
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 23, 2017
When he was a baby, Tommy would cry if his parents changed the television channel from golf, and he picked up his first club at 14 months old. His parents, both golfers, weren’t surprised.
“He’s had such a passion for the game since he was a baby,” Joe said. “Tommy used to sleep with my golf clubs at night. He would drag them up the stairs and get them in his crib. I would show up at the golf course the next day and I’d be missing my clubs!”
Hanging with the @onearmgolfer on the range @TheHondaClassic. His one handed shots put us pros to shame! pic.twitter.com/IbtpxA2tvq
— Graeme McDowell (@Graeme_McDowell) February 23, 2017
Tommy does not ignore the technical side of the game, either. He studies it and can recite statistics from memory.
“It’s a true passion,” Joe said. “As a parent, you can feel how your children perceives things in life by the things they do. He skips back and forth across the green — and when he’s skipping I know he’s having fun. He just absolutely loves the sport.”
Tommy’s favorite pro golfers are Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler.
(H/T: People)
Other Must-Read Stories:
—She Was Born Without Legs, but This Acrobat and Aerialist Has Defied the Odds in Every Way Possible
—5 Strangers Lift Car Off Kids Hit by Reckless Driver at School Crossing
—This 86-year-old Widower Teaches Himself to Knit So He Can Make Tiny Hats to Help New Born Babies