WATCH: Wounded veterans compete, inspire in Shinnecock Hills event

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club played big to the 2nd U.S. Open. That was backmost successful 1896, 5 years aft the club’s founding. Since then, 4 much Opens person been contested astatine the storied Southampton, N.Y., club. So, too, has a Walker Cup and 3 different USGA nationalist championships.

But complete 2 days past month, a little heralded arena was decided astatine Shinnecock, 1 that pitted 13 wounded subject veterans from the U.S. against 13 of their counterparts from Great Britain. The juncture was the 12th playing of the Simpson Cup, a Ryder Cup-style title astatine which the camaraderie is each spot arsenic important arsenic the competition.

“There’s nary separation betwixt countries,” said U.S. Marine Sergeant (Ret.) Nick Kimmel, who played connected the U.S. side. “If you chose to guidelines up and raise your manus and service your country, you person that earthy soul bond.”

While Kimmel was deployed successful Afghanistan successful 2011, he stepped connected an improvised explosive instrumentality and was knocked unconscious. Days later, erstwhile he awoke successful the Walter Reed National Medical Center successful Bethesda, Md., Kimmel learned that he had mislaid his near limb and some of his legs.  

During his recovery, he discovered the treatment powers of golf.

At the Simpson Cup, the camaraderie is each spot arsenic important arsenic the competition.

“Probably 1 of the champion things I’ve travel crossed for beingness and intelligence rehab,” he said. “The is the champion measurement for maine to conscionable move it each disconnected and unopen disconnected each the sound and the garbage.

“For 4 hours, it’s conscionable maine and the play shot connected the play course.”

What the crippled intends to Kimmel and his chap veterans is writ ample astatine the Simpson Cup, which has go a shape for immoderate of the world’s champion adaptive golfers.

Founded successful 2012 by John Simpson, a erstwhile International Management Group executive who suffered from complications from puerility polio, the arena alternates annually betwixt big sites successful Great Britain and the U.S. And not conscionable any sites: TPC Sawgrass, Royal Lytham & St Annes, Congressional, Royal St. George’s, Baltusrol (to sanction conscionable a few), and earlier this fall…Shinnecock Hills.

The U.S. had a two-point lead aft the first time of four-ball play, but pinch 13 points still up for grabs successful the 2nd day’s singles matches, Great Britain was still very overmuch successful contention.

GOLF.com video shaper Connor Federico was connected tract to chronicle the thrilling conclusion. You tin cheque retired the action successful the video above.