The DP World Tour is back this week after a couple of cancelled events for the Magical Kenya Open at Muthaiga Golf Club, Nairobi, Kenya.
The 156 field (top 65 make cut) will all be competing around this par 71, parkland venue for a share of the €1.75m prize pot with the winner receiving the title and €291,000.
Justin Harding returns to Nairobi to defend the title he won last year when defeating Kurt Kitayama with two shots to spare.
The weather is forecast to be sunny and warm from start to finish with only gentle breezes to contend with.
This event will be screened on Sky Sports Golf & Sky Sports Main Event with live coverage starting at 10am GMT on Thursday morning.
I’ve already posted a preview for the Arnold Palmer Invitational over on the PGA Tour so you can have a look at this weeks PGA selections on the website.
So let’s try and narrow down the field for the Magical Kenya Open.
Daniel Van Tonder
For my first and main selection I’m going to advise Daniel Van Tonder 28/1 EW Bet365. The 30 yrs old South African won the Kenya Savannah Classic around these parts last year and will be looking to double up on his DP World crowns in Kenya again this year.
He has won a good few events on the Asia/Africa Tour at venues similar to Muthaiga so conditions will more than suit. He recently won the South Africa Open Championship and in the four events played since that victory, Van Tonder has two Top 20 finishes.
He was 20th last time out at the Ras Al Khaimah Classic and the week before that he was 13th at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship. I just feel that Van Tonder will shine in Kenya again this week and bring his A game so he could be the one that they all have to beat.
Scott Jamieson
For my next selection I’m going to single out Scott Jamieson 35/1 Bet365. The 38 year old Scot from Glasgow hasn’t won on the DP World Tour since 2012 when winning the Nelson Mandela Championship so a few will be saying why single him out. The reason I’m willing to side with Jamieson is his recent form.
In his last seven starts, the Scot has three Top 20 finishes with another just outside the Top 20 when finishing 21st at the recent Ras Al Khaimah Championship. He finished inside the Top 10 last time out at the Ras Al Khaimah Classic so it’s clear to see that Jamieson comes to Kenya with some form in the bag.
The par 5s will play a big part in determining the winner this week and this season Jamieson ranks 2nd on the DP World Tour in par 5 scoring. With not many DP World Tour events to go on this year, I’m looking for who’s coming here with recent form and Jamieson ticks all the boxes.
It is a while since Jamieson won an event but he has come close on a few occasions with runner-up prizes at the Nedbank Golf Challenge and the Volvo Golf Champions.
I’m willing to give Scott Jamieson another chance this week so I’m including him to bag another crown, a much needed one at that.
Johannes Veerman
For my next pick I’m liking the look off Johannes Veerman 22/1 EW William Hill.
Again I’m going more on recent form when including the 29 year old from California. In his last three events he has two 12th place finishes at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship last time out and also the Joburg Open.
The American who plays most of his golf on the DP World Tour had a fairly successful 2021 when winning the D+D Real Czech Masters. He also finished 3rd at The Irish Open and finished inside the place money at The Scottish Open with 8th place.
He is another who will find conditions more than suitable for his game and I can see Veerman challenging on the back nine at Sundays final round. He’s done what most in this field can only dream about, winning on the DP World Tour, so he knows what it takes to bag a victory.
He can use his expertise and experience this weekend to claim yet another crown and get his season off to an even better start with a victory at the Magical Kenya Open.
Oliver Bekker v Julien Brun
For my final selection it’s the customary matchbet and this week in Kenya I’m going to select Oliver Bekker to beat Julien Brun over the 72 holes, 9/10 Nap Betfair.
Magical Kenya Open
- Daniel Van Tonder 28/1 EW Bet365.
- Scott Jamieson 35/1 EW Bet365.
- Johannes Veerman 22/1 EW William Hill.
- Oliver Bekker to beat Julien Brun , 9/10 Nap ,Betfair. 72 hole matchbet
