Scottish golfer with cerebral palsy

Unless you’ve been mummified and locked in a sarcophagus for the past few weeks then you’re probably aware of Michael Block.

He was the unheralded club professional from California who finished in a share of 15th at the recent PGA Championship and whipped the golf media into such a giddy state, it was as if the entire industry had just gulped down half a bottle of prosecco on an empty stomach.

For club pros around the world, Block’s Oak Hill tale was an uplifting, inspiring story as one of their own went toe-to-toe with the game’s global superstars while generating the kind of drooling, blanket coverage usually reserved for the birth of a Royal baby.

“We should be shouting about this from the rooftops,” said Craig Donnelly, a Scottish PGA pro.

But wait — Donnelly isn’t talking about Block’s blockbusting endeavors here. He’s reflecting on a heartening achievement that also deserves plenty of acclaim.

Donnelly has just helped one of his assistants, Gregor McDonald, through the PGA’s degree program to become a fully qualified professional. There’s nothing new there, of course. Donnelly has nurtured over a dozen young trainees down the seasons and watched them graduate but McDonald’s accomplishment is a source of particular pride.

McDonald suffers from cerebral palsy but the 27-year-old’s disability has never diminished his drive and determination to succeed in a game that is his passion.

“I’m very proud of myself,” said McDonald, who is based at Donnelly’s Cluny Clays facility in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, which sits less than an hour north of Edinburgh. “I never thought I would do something like this, especially when I was younger with all the difficulties that I faced. But I’ve proved that a disability shouldn’t stop you from pursuing your goals.

“I’m one of the very few disabled PGA pros and hopefully, I can inspire a few more to come down this route. Graduating is a nice reward for all the hard work I’ve put in, as well as for those who have helped me.”

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Donnelly, who runs three golf facilities in Scotland and one in the Murcia region of Spain, has been part of McDonald’s golfing career for well over a decade. It’s not been an easy journey at times but it has been one characterized by grit, gusto and great spirit.

“Gregor’s spent his entire life just getting on with it and he’s never shied away from a challenge,”…