The DP World Tour returns after a short break with a visit to the African continent for this week's Kenya Open at Muthaiga Golf Club, Nairobi, Kenya.
The DPWT International swing series will remain in Africa for the next three weeks with the Kenya Open starting proceedings followed by the SDC Championship & then the Jonnson Workwear Open.
The 156 fields with the top 65 including ties making the weekend will all be playing for a share of the $2.5M prize purse with the winner collecting the Kenya Open title & a winning cheque for $416,750.
Muthaiga Golf Club will be playing 7,228 yards long this week, it’s a Par 71 Parkland track where the key attribute will involve accuracy, especially Off the Tee.
Jorge Campillo who won this event last year won’t be in Africa to defend his title due to commitments on the PGA Tour, he’ll be teeing off at the Mexico Open in Vidanta this week. His winning scorecard from 2023 read 266,-18.
The weather forecasts sunny & warm conditions with cloudy intervals throughout. Breezes will peak at around 20mph.
This event will be screened on Sky Sports Golf for those in the UK with live coverage starting at 10 am on Thursday.
Remember & place any pre-tournament bets by 4 am on Thursday.
So let’s move on with this week's betting tips for the Kenya Open.
Rikuya Hoshino 16/1 EW PaddyPower
For my first & main selection in Nairobi, I’m going to single out Rikuya Hoshino 16/1 EW PaddyPower 1-7 places.
This kid is a superstar in the making & arrives in Africa fresh after scooping his maiden DPWT Title last time out at the Qatar Masters. Before Qatar, he was in Bahrain where he also finished 12th at the Bahrain Championship so the man from Japan is hot. Hoshino finished runner-up on no less than five occasions across the DP World & Asia Tours & he also had five Top 10 efforts on the DPWT throughout 2023.
T7th at the Irish Open, T6th Ras Al Khaimah Championship, T3rd BMW International Open & Runner up at both the Australian PGA Championship & Australian Open.
His Driving Accuracy (27th) figures on the DPWT are up there & that will be important come Sunday as are his Greens in Reglation (17th) & Stroke Average (6th) figures. That maiden DPWT victory last time out will be the first of many for Rikuya Hoshino & he could be unbeatable again this weekend when he doubles up in as many attempts.
Frederic Lacroix 22/1 EW Boylesports 1-8 places
For my next pick at Muthaiga Golf Club, I’m going to recommend Frederic Lacroix 22/1 EW Boylesports 1-8 places. The 28-year-old Frenchman has started his DPWT campaign with flying colours since arriving from the Challenge Tour just a few months ago & may not have much longer to wait for his first taste at success.
Lacroix has played five DPWT events over the past few months & finished inside the Top 20 at four of them, impressive stuff. Not only that, what’s got Frederic flashing all over the radar is that three of those were Top 5 efforts, truly incredible.
T4th at the Bahrain Championship just a couple of weeks back then 3rd at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship & the above were both this year then there was the South Africa Open at the end of last year where he finished T5th.
Frederic Lacroix is ranked 14th on the DPWT for Driving Accuracy & 10th for Driving Distance & it’s in these departments that the Kenya Open could be won. He has plenty of backup with Greens in Regulation (17th) & even better for Stroke Average when he’s ranked 8th on Tour. Again without being disrespectful but with a host of names staying away from Africa with some in Mexico, then the door could be wide ajar for Frederic Lacroix to bag a well-deserved maiden DPWT crown, his friend Matthieu Pavon conquered America recently so why can’t Lacroix conquer Africa.
Aaron Cockerill 28/1 EW PaddyPower 1-7 places
For my final selection in Kenya this week I’m going to point you all in the direction of Aaron Cockerill 25/1 EW Bet365.
The Canadians are playing good golf at the moment Aaron Cockerill is no exception. The 31-year-old Canadian has started the year on fire with two Top 10 efforts, he began his 2024 campaign with T4th at the Dubai Desert Classic then faired well at the Ras al Khaimah Championship before finishing inside the Top 10 again with a tremendous effort at the Bahrain Championship where he finished in 6th place.
Aaron Cockerill finished runner-up at the ISPS Handa Championship in 2023 but more importantly the year before, he finished joint runner-up at this event & venue in 2022, that’s when this Muthaiga Golf Club made its DPWT debut. The Canadian is dependable for Accuracy Off the Tee & his Stroke Average figures aren’t too shabby either & this could help his cause this weekend.
Aaron Cockerill is still seeking that maiden breakthrough DPWT victory & consistently could pay off with a visit to the winner’s enclosure this weekend in the African sunshine, remember & double-check that scorecard Aaron.
Kenya Open Tips
- Rikuya Hoshino 16/1 EW PaddyPower 1-7 places
- Frederic Lacroix 22/1 EW Boylesports 1-8 places
- Aaron Cockerill 28/1 EW PaddyPower 1-7 places
Kenya Open Matchbet Nap
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