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Paul McCormack, Winner of the 2021 ISPS Handa British Blind Open, 2016, 2017 ISPS Handa U.S. and 2017 British Blind Golf Open Championships.

On September 11, 2001, McCormack - born in Philadelphia to Irish parents in 1968 - was captain in the NYPD’s 41st Precinct and was on the front line during the clean-up operation after the towers came down.

At the time, he was in perfect health but McCormack recalls how the chemicals from Ground Zero used to burn his eyes. He has been legally blind since.

“My condition is hard to explain. It’s not fully known what it is. It could be genetic but it happened around 9/11. They say been down there could have brought out the affects of it,”

“I was down there for a long time and the experts believe the exposure brought it on. I have seen doctors all over the world and there is no definitive answer.”

Despite his ailing condition, McCormack, who is back living in Ireland since 2010, adopted a positive attitude - a decision that no doubt helped to shape one of his proudest days when he secured the US Open for the first time.

It’s an endearing quality to dismiss the loss of your sight as part of life. “We all have crosses to bear, have to move on with life,” adds McCormack.

Move on he did.