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Magical Kenya Open Golf Tips
3pts ew Antoine Rozner 16/1 (6)
2pts ew Oliver Bekker 22/1 (6)
2pts ew Ashun Wu 28/1 (6)
1pt ew Marcus Kinhult 45/1 (6)
1pt ew Jayden Schaper 50/1 (6)
0.5pts ew Alexander Knappe 80/1 (5)
After a few weeks in Asia where Marcel Siem won a week after he made his 500th appearance, the DP Tour now moves to Africa for three weeks. The destination is Nairobi in Kenya, the Tour has been here a few times with the Challenge tour in 2009 Boyd –13, 2010 Dinwidde –12, 2011 Bothma –14, 2012 Benson –10 – 2017 Rai –17 and 2018 Gagli -11 not forgetting the DP Tour 2022 with Ashun Wu winning with a score of -16.
Course
Muthaiga GC Nairobi Kenya
This parkland course can be found in the northeast of Nairobi, it’s a par 71 measuring 7,184 yards and was renovated in 2004 by Peter Matkovich.
The course has 5 par- 3s and 4 par –5s, two of the par fives are good scoring holes, being the first and third easiest holes on the course, the pros need to be on top of their game with the trees, lakes and ponds coming into play. The front nine plays much longer than the back with 400yds being the difference, the greens are bent grass and are meant to be the fastest in East Africa. One other thing to note Nairobi is 5,000 feet above sea level so the altitude at Muthaiga helps the ball fly further.
Key Stats To Consider
GOOD TEE TO GREEN GAME
DRIVING ACCURACY
STROKES GAINED PUTTING
GOOD ALTITUDE PLAYERS
PAR 3&5 SCORING
Picks
ANTIONE ROZNER 16/1
So if we're looking for a solid option this week look no further than Mr Rozner, the world 139 has three DP Tour wins to his name with his latest win coming last year. He's been very solid recently with his last two plays ending in T5th-T6th, his numbers are looking good with him 45th in driving accuracy, 21st In greens in reg, 30th in SGTTG and 56th in SGPUTT, Antoine also is 12th in par 3 scoring, 19th in par 5 scoring and 4th in bogey avoidance.
Rozner has finished 34th here and T54, he's also played well at altitude, I'm in no doubt he has an excellent chance of going well here.
OLIVER BEKKER 22/1
This is a man who has played well recently until the missed cut at the Indian Open, he picked up his first win in 2023 on the challenge tour, it's only a matter of time before this 38yr old bags his first DP Tour win.
This South African has eight professional wins which have all been in his home country, he’s played a few rounds at this course with him recording T6th –T8th-T14th and T18th.
Looking at the stats his TTG is 56th, he is 60th in putting per GIR, which for me is important, Oliver has posted two 63s at this venue only matched by two players, so he knows how to get around this course and post a good number.
ASHUN WU 28/1
This man needs no introduction for this event after winning here in 2022, Ashun won with a score of –16, with the nearest player Cockerill four shots back.
Wu has made a steady start to the new year with three top 20s and no missed cuts.
His stats read ok as well with SG DRIV ACC 62nd-SGTTG 63RD– GIR 100TH- 31ST BOGEY AVOIDANCE- SGPUTT 40TH- he also is 5th in par 5 scoring he also has two top ten's at the Omega European master's which is a good guide for Altitude players.
MARCUS KINHULT 45/1
Looking at long shots with a chance Marcus is defiantly worth a look. He has two missed cuts to overcome but prior to that he posted some good numbers, he tied 8th in the Dubai desert classic and was T46th in the Abu Dhabi, his last DP Tour win was in 2019 at the British masters.
Looking at the stats they don’t seem too bad, SG-TTG 35th- SG-DRIV ACC 26th- GIR 12th – SG-ARG 12th. Marcus has also played well at Crans –sur which puts him at an advantage and to top that he finished T8th here in 2022 and T12th in 2017.
JAYDEN SCHAPER 50/1
Jayden is a young man on a mission, he had an excellent 2022 without winning, with seven top tens and losing out in a playoff on the sunshine tour.
Jayden is still learning his trade with only a few DP Tour starts but he’s starting to make a name for himself, his last two starts have resulted in finishing T13th and T17th, in both these events he performed really well. Unfortunately he had an MC this year but only by two shots but bounced back with the two good finishes.
His stats are really good he’s 6th in driving accuracy, 2nd TTG, 9th GIR- 2nd SGARG- 25th par 5 scoring. His putting needs to be brushed up, he’s losing –1.34 and sits 151st in putting, on a positive note he was T34th at this event last year and course form is for me a definite positive.
ALEXANDER KNAPPE 80/1
Alexander is moving in the right direction after three missed cuts, he followed them with a T34th then two top ten, he’s still waiting for his first DP Tour but has four professional wins with two of them last year.
Granted his putting is not great but all other stats are good reading 40th drive acc- 26th SGTT- 44th SGARG- 114th SGPUTT- 10th Par 5 scoring.
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