This One-Armed 5-Year-Old Golfer Is Long And Straight Off The Tee

Alex Buscemi10 years ago

This kid is an inspiration.

Tommy Morrissey, 5, is a golfing prodigy. His game is impressive for his age. But even more impressive — Morrissey does it all with only one hand on the club. Just look at this highlight reel:

Due to a blood clot in utero, Morrissey was born without a portion of his right arm. He fittingly nicknamed the arm “Nemo,” after the cartoon fish with a small fin.

He spoke to Golf.com back when he was three, and he was already driving the ball the length of a football field:

The pint-sized golfing prodigy can drive the ball nearly 100 yards despite being born without a portion of his right arm below the elbow.

“It’s both a gift and a challenge. And he doesn’t know he has either one,” Joe Morrissey, Tommy’s father, told David Weinberg of the Press of Atlantic City.

Tommy has nicknamed his right arm “Nemo,” after the character in the Disney animated film who has a small fin. Tommy lives with his family in Florida, and visits Linwood, N.J., during the summer. That’s where he took a lesson from Linwood PGA professional Jeff LeFevre.

“I was very skeptical at first,” LeFevre said. “Most 3-year-olds are more interested in Tonka Trucks than golf … But Tommy was different. His setup and stance were perfect, and he had the slight hesitation at the top of his backswing that you’re looking for. I stepped back and had a tear in my eye. The ball is the biggest truth in golf, and he hit it square. He is beyond unique.”

Little dude can hit the crap out of the ball. He’s got an incredible short game, too, but the driver is by far his favorite club. It’s easy to see why.

Morrissey has competed in lots of junior golfing tournaments, where he blows audiences away with his skill and attitude — both of which are years beyond his age. Back in January, he teed off in front of thousands at the PGA Demo Day at Orange County National outside Orlando. He’s also met a bunch of his heroes, including Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, and Rickie Fowler, though it’s hard to tell who was inspiring who..

[via Golf.com]