The Kenya Open has been a fixture for over 50 years, though this is going to be the first time it exists as a fully-fledged European Tour event. Read our full preview below.
The European Tour 2019
The Magical Kenya Open
Karen Country Club, Nairobi, Kenya
14th- 17th March
The Kenya Open has been a fixture for over 50 years, though this is going to be the first time it exists as a fully-fledged European Tour event. It was founded in 1967 and has existed as a Challenge Tour event since 1991. This will clearly be a devastated field as it plays alongside the prestigious Players Championship. Lorenzo Gagli will be aiming to become the first two-time Kenya Open ever, though this will take part at a different course. The event moves to Karen Country Club, which has hosted this event on nine separate occasions. The course is situated about 10 miles South-West of Nairobi.
This course was designed by Remy Martin and opened a staggering 82 years ago. Karen Country Club is a parkland style course, tree-lined and undulating. It has smaller than average greens that will certainly prove a challenge. The course is actually built on a former coffee estate, a clear throwback to the colonial past. It will probably be wise not to discount the strong South African contingent. They tend to perform well when back on their own continent.
Justin Harding will be looking to make it back-to-back victories after his success in Qatar last week. Christian Bezuidenhout will be looking to avenge his runner-up finish in Qatar last week. Erik Van Rooyen and George Coetzee reemphasize the power that the South Africans bring this week. Victorious Ryder Cup Captain Thomas Bjorn will be teeing it up whilst Internet sensation Ho-Sung Choi looks to show off his highly unconventional swing.
Past Winners
2018: Lorenzo Gagli (-11)*playoff
2017: Aron Rai (-17)
2016: Sebastian Soderberg (-18)
2015: Haydn Porteous (-17)
2014: Jake Roos (-10)
Betting Favourites (To Win):
Justin Harding (12/1)
Erik Van Rooyen (18/1)
Adri Arnaus (22/1)
George Coetzee (22/1)
Romain Langasque (22/1)
Value Bets
Christian Bezuidenhout – To Win (33/1), To Place (7/1)
Last week’s runner-up in Qatar, Bezuidenhout looks to me to represent the best value of all the South Africans competing this week. His finish last week matched his best ever European Tour finish: he finished 2nd at the 2016 BMW SA Open. In that same year he managed to finish 4th in the Kenya Open. That happened on this very course. So course credentials combined with his current form make for a compelling case at 33/1.
Sebastian Soderberg – To Win (60/1), To Place (14/1)
You have to fancy the last champion on this course at those odds, particularly when you look at how eviscerated the field is. Not only did he manage the win here in 2016, he followed that up with a tie for 6th last season. He also enters this event in decent form emanating from far better fields. He finished in a tie for 20th in Qatar fresh off the heels of a tie for 21st in Oman. He currently sits 16th on the tour for shots gained around green. That makes for compelling evidence with these smaller-than-average greens.
The Man to Beat
Clement Sordet- To Win (25/1), To Place (11/2)
I feel like I have stuck my neck out a few times for this enigmatic French talent. There are a few of those on tour; enigmatic French talents- just think Victor Dubuisson and Alex Levy. Sordet missed a glorious chance to win in Oman. He highlighted his mercurial tag by following that runner-up finish with a missed cut in Qatar. But I have the feeling that he should do quite well this week. That runner-up in Oman was his 2nd top 20 in his last four starts. He had a tie for 8th at the Vic Open. He also enjoyed a top 20 at the World Super 6 in Perth.
