The DP World Tour returns from a one-week hiatus for this year’s edition of the Kenya Open – an event that dates back all the way to 1967. Damien Kayat previews.
2022/2023 DP World Tour
Kenya Open
Muithaiga Golf Club, Nairobi, Kenya
9th-12th March
The DP World Tour returns from a one-week hiatus for this year’s edition of the Kenya Open (an event that actually dates back all the way to 1967).
The likes of Seve Ballesteros and Ian Woosnam tasted success in the glory days of this event. It was originally conceived as part of the emerging Safari Circuit and was only incorporated into the official European fold in 1991 (where it was assimilated into the Challenge Tour).
It was only bumped up to full European Tour status in 2019 (though the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic). It returned two years ago, making this the fourth renewal of the Magical Kenya Open.
After two years at Karen Golf Course in Nairobi, the tournament moved north to Muthaiga Golf Club for the 2022 renewal.
Muithaiga Golf Club
Located in the North of Nairobi and on the edge of the Karura Forest, Muthaiga is a tree-lined track with bountiful water hazards. It hosted the inaugural Kenya Open in 1967 and this will be the 41st staging of this event at Muthaiga.
This is certainly a very idiosyncratic course that has a Jekyll and Hyde vibe (and for good reason). The course started life as a nine-hole course in 1913, with the second nine being added in 1926.
The front nine plays considerably longer, weaving through undulating terrain. The second nine, though shorter, is more daunting due to the presence of several man-man lakes.
This course will play considerably shorter than the advertised 7,200+ yards (due to the extreme altitude this week). Players will need to take advantage of the four gettable par 5s.
I would look for players who have enjoyed success on similarly tree-lined affairs. Perhaps look for players who thrive on tests such as Wentworth and Valderrama (two bastions of tree-lined European golf). Crans-sur-Sierre actually fits even better as it is a tree-lined test played at severe altitude.
Muthaiga Golf Club, where all the greatness will be experienced from March 9th-12th 2023...you know what they say , Golf is where the grass is always greener 😄 #MagicalKenyaOpens pic.twitter.com/NMDATPSw00
— Magical Kenya Open (@KenyaOpenGolf) March 2, 2023
The Contenders
With the entire golfing world fixated on the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass this week, it’s unsurprising that we have a fairly humdrum field again on the DP World Tour.
I really don’t see the logic in Robert Macintyre as a market leader. The Scot’s form has tailed off terribly since he won the Italian Open in September.
Antoine Rozner looks far more appealing following back-to-back top-six finishes. Spaniards Adrian Otaegui and Adri Arnaus both have the pedigree to pull off the victory this week.
And could it be a London bus scenario for Marcel Siem this week? The Dutchman is fresh off winning his fifth DP World Tour title at the Hero Indian Open (his first title in eight years). Could he become one of the most unlikely back-to-back winners in some time?
To Win Outright:
Antoine Rozner 18/1 | Robert Macintyre 20/1 | Oliver Bekker 22/1 | Adri Arnaus 25/1 | Marcel Siem 28/1
Value Bets
Marcus Kinhult- To Win 35/1 | To Place 15/2
Swede Marcus Kinhult is ideally suited to this pernickety, fiddly layout (he has finished 12th and 8th in his two starts here). He hasn’t been in roaring form of late. But something tells me this field could be to his liking. He also finished 6th at the Andalucia Masters in October. That’s important because it is hosted at Valderrama (one of the key corollary courses this week). He also finished 8th at the Dubai Desert Classic and is fresh off a couple of top 11 finishes in the Nordic Golf League. Could he add to his 2019 British Masters crown this week?
Calum Hill- To Win 70/1 | To Place 15/1
Scot Calum Hill has had rather unfortunate luck over the past few years. He won the Cazoo Classic in 2021 and looked destined for greater things. But he was bitten by an insect playing in Spain towards the end of 2021. This led to two late-season withdrawals and it bled into his 2022 campaign. But a 13th at the Dubai Desert Classic indicates that his form could be on the mend. He finished 7th at Crans just a few weeks after his breakthrough win at the London Club. And he also has excellent form in Kenya. He finished 8th in the 2021 edition of this event hosted at Keren. He then followed that with a 3rd place finish a week later at the Kenya Savannah Classic (hosted at the same venue).
The Man to Beat- Adri Arnaus- To Win 25/1 | To Place 48/10
Spaniard Adri Arnaus has developed something of an affinity for these short, altitude-affected Kenyan tracks. He finished 2nd at Karen Country Club in 2019 when still searching for his breakthrough win. And he also finished 8th here last year. A week later he would be edged out by Pablo Larrazabl in a three-man playoff at Pecanwood. But he finally made his DP World Tour breakthrough in 2022, beating Oliver Bekker in a thrilling playoff at the Catalunya Championship. It’s been a weird year for Arnaus. He was always seen as a tee-to-green expert with dubious short-game credentials. But those tables seem to have flipped slightly this year. Still, there are some encouraging signs for Arnaus. He finished 6th at Ras al Khaimah, ranking 7th for SG: Approach and SG: Tee-to-Green.
