The European Tour’s time in the Middle East came to an end for the time being with last week’s Qatar Open. Of course, the season is all based around the final of the Race to Dubai at the DP World Tour Championship so we will be back in that part of the world come November but there’s plenty of globetrotting yet to come.
It’s to East Africa the tour goes this week for the Magical Kenya Open. This is the first time that the tournament has been part of the European Tour and there’s a keen sense of intrigue amongst those who have been to Nairobi about what they’ll find at Karen Country Club. George Coetzee will need to quickly get to grips with the course but the South African has bags of experience playing in the hot and windy conditions expected in Nairobi and can continue last week’s positive form by winning at 20/1 with Betfred.
Top Tips
George Coetzee @ 20/1
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Course Info
The Challenge Tour players who have competed at Karen Country Club had positive things to say about the course. That may reflect the fact that scoring well at this resort style course is relatively easy for professional golfers more than anything but it is sure to be presented in top class style for the European Tour players.
At a shade under 7,000 yards this par 71 course is not a challenge in terms of distance for players of this calibre. Its defences lie in the tree-lined fairways, multiple water hazards and some strategically placed bunkers guarding the Bentgrass greens. As is the norm with many courses in Africa, the players will try their best to avoid the rough as the Kikuyu grass is notoriously thick, sticky and difficult to play out of.
| Course | Location | Length | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karen Country Club | Nairobi, Kenya | 6,922 Yards | €1,100,000 |
Recent Winners
The Kenya Open may be making its debut on the European Tour this week but it is an event with plenty of history. Challenge Tour players have been competing in the East African event for many years now and it was first held back in 1967 when England’s Guy Wolstenholme won. Since then some of the biggest names in European golf including Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam and Christy O’Connor Jnr have won the tournament.
Pouring through the recent form will give a few punters but it’s worth remembering that each of the last five golfers to win did so on the Challenge Tour and the last two tournaments took place at Muthaiga Golf Club.
| Year | Winner | Course | To Par | Winning Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Lorenzo Gagli | Muthaiga Golf Club | -11 | Playoff |
| 2017 | Aaron Rai | Muthaiga Golf Club | -17 | 3 Strokes |
| 2016 | Sebastian Soderberg | Karen Country Club | -18 | 3 Strokes |
| 2015 | Haydn Porteous | Karen Country Club | -17 | Playoff |
| 2014 | Jake Roos | Karen Country Club | -10 | 1 Stroke |
Analysis: Smart Iron Play to Make the Difference
Players who have competed at Karen Country Club previously have spoken about it as a tough test of mentality. It’s the sort of course which demands that players think their way around as the trees and punishing rough do not favour bomb and gouge golf. The challenge of strategy will only intensify as and when the wind picks up so the players who are best at manipulating their ball flight will have an edge over the field in the Magical Kenya Open.
Coetzee a Class Above Most of This Field
With all due respect to the organisers and all those competing in the Magical Kenya Open this is one of the weakest fields you’ll see on the European Tour this season. Such is the depth of talent in golf currently that even a weak field at this level includes some genuinely classy players with George Coetzee very much fitting that bill.
The South African has won nine times on the Sunshine Tour with four of those also counting as European Tour wins. Most of his best golf has come in Africa but Coetzee also competed amongst some of the best players in the world in the Middle East as he is an excellent player in adverse wind conditions. He’s one of the few who will hope that conditions are more blustery than the forecast suggests as he is excellent when it comes to controlling his ball flight.
Coetzee took the decision a little while ago to try and future proof his career by taking better care of himself. The resulting weight loss coincided with a worrying loss of form but he showed just how good he can be when conditions are right by tying for second in last week’s Qatar Masters. A repeat of that level of performance may prove too good for the competition so back Coetzee to win at 20/1 with Betfred, a price which is more than fair.
Huizing Desperate to Grab European Tour Chance
Just a few short years ago Daan Huizing was being spoken of as one of the rising stars of Dutch golf. At 28 there is still a lot of time left for Huizing to fulfil his potential and although his career hasn’t panned out exactly to plan he is very much fighting to make a name for himself.
Huizing has been unable to confirm his long term future on the European Tour by winning an event. He also finished way below the 110 mark on the Race to Dubai that would have guaranteed he has control over his schedule and is instead competing on the Challenge Tour and taking his chances to compete in the big leagues whenever he can.
There are any number of players in a similar position to Huizing in the field for the Kenya Open. That’s what makes these sort of events so important and helps to provide thrilling finishes. Huizing will be feeling more confident than many of his fellow Challenge Tour competitors as he has finished eighth and fifth in his two starts at Karen Golf Club. He’s also played some very good stuff in recent weeks so is one to back each way at 66/1 with Betfair.
Final Verdict: George Coetzee to Win
Winning a European Tour event is never easy and it will take a very good performance to win this year’s Kenya Open. The opportunity is very much there for the best players in the field and those with most potential to grab a victory that could do wonders for their career though and George Coetzee appears best placed to grab that opportunity with both hands.