'I cried' - One-armed golfer on what world title means

BBC News

27-06-2025

"They call me the one-armed Jon Rahm".It is with a broad smile and laugh that Mark Marshall embraces the nickname which follows the Nottinghamshire golfer around courses, where he proudly says he leaves people "gobsmacked".He is a right-handed golfer without a right-hand, after it and much of his forearm was severed in a wood processing machine at work more than a decade ago.Marshall is also now the one-armed golf world champion - a title that gives that comparison to Spain's former world number one Rahm even more authority than simply a play on words."It means a hell of a lot, I cried and there were a lot of different emotions," said Marshall, remembering the moment he clinched the title at Cleveland Golf Club in England's North East.
The emotions felt were not just about the sporting achievement, or even what he had to overcome following his injury to get there.It was only 12 months earlier that Emily Rose, his partner of 13 years and mother of his three-year-old daughter Elle, died.Wayne Albans is Marshall's caddy, but is quick to add that he is most "proud to call him best mate".He said: "I've known Mark for six years, I didn't know him when he had two arms, but for what he has overcome, I don't know how he has done it."The stuff he has gone through in his life, his partner passing away was very hard for Mark and now he is bringing up his daughter."I take my hat off to him or what he has done. He should be so proud."Marshall says having "family, friends and good people around" has helped him cope in the difficult times."I have a positive mindset and I don't think anything can stop me, really," he told BBC East Midlands Today.
Golf, for Marshall, has been a constant in his life.He grew up in Retford, in the north east of the county, and first took up the game there.When he still had both hands, he was on the club's 'scratch' team - representing the best who played at course.But with one hand, he is now going to play for Europe in the Fightmaster Cup, the one-armed equivalent of the Ryder Cup, later this year.Getting his game to such a level, and being able to smash tee shots 270 yards with his weaker, but fully functional, left arm has taken years of work and even pain."It's lots of practice, dedication and frustration," he said."I had a few years building my strength up. I was hurting my shoulder quite a bit trying to hit the ball harder. But I'd say after about three years I've had no injuries because I just got really strong from all the practice."And it has been worth it in the end, because it's just nice to hit a good ball."On his local fairways, Marshall is very much the golfer to watch - and not just because he is playing with a disability.Even when he is a focus of attention among his fellow golfers for being a one-armed player, he relishes it because he knows he can change perceptions."If I play elsewhere people are all gobsmacked," he said."They all watch me and that makes me strive more to hit a good shot off the first tee because they are all crowded around."I just smash the ball and everyone is just like 'what?'. It's good fun, to be fair."