Fichardt chasing sixth European Tour win at Savannah Classic

Fresh from a second-place finish at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and a tied 24th in his milestone 400th European Tour (ET) appearance at last week's Magical Kenya Open, South African Darren Fichardt is looking to pick his sixth ET title at the ongoing Kenya Savannah Classic. 

The 47-year-old is beginning his third round tied fourth on a total rounds score of 11 under par, two shots off leader and countryman Daniel van Tonder, having shot a 66 on the second round to add to his 65 on the opening round at the Karen Country Club. 

"I am very pleased with how I am playing. Last week(at the Open) was quite frustrating, it was my first time playing here and I made a lot of silly mistakes so I took it as four practice rounds for this tournament and I feel pretty comfortable out there and I’m playing pretty solid.

I was hitting it very well. Wednesday and Tuesday I was making a few putts, crucial putts, putts that give you momentum so that was good. I’m just bummed the way I finished, three pars on seven, eight and nine when you feel like you can birdie all three of them.

But I am happy with 11 under and I’m there with a shot. I enjoy that you can take on risky shots, hit driver and hit it pretty close to the green on a couple of par fours and you’ve got to hit a good shot. I feel you’re rewarded for good shots, which I love. I hate the courses where you can hit a 50-yard snap hook and it’s open and you can hit a shot into the green. You’ve got no chance, you’ve got to hit it on point and I find on courses like this it’s easier to stay focussed. When the course is wide open and stuff, you tend to lose focus and hit poor shots.

I must say after 18 holes on this course you’re pretty tired. Mentally tired, because you’re hitting a lot of risky shots, drivers where you’ve got a 20-yard landing area and left or right of that you’re looking at bogey or double-bogey. But I enjoy it and I’ve got a new Callaway driver this last two weeks and it’s flying like a dart so that’s good. I tried something different on the second round, three wood on a few more tee shots, on the 18th, first and 12th, and I found that very helpful so I think the way I played on my second round I’ll maintain the next two days," said the 15-time Sunshine Tour winner. 

He last won a ET event, his fifth, at the 2107 Joburg Open, 16 years after his first win at the Sao Paulo Brazil Open in 2001. He lost his card in 2019 but claimed it back through the Qualifying School. He was on the verge of winning his sixth ET title at the Qatar Masters but missed out as Frenchman Antoine Rozner claimed it in the last hole. 

His trip to Kenya was not only significant as his first tone to play here, he played his 400th ET at the Open and is hoping that luck would smile on him on his 401 appearance to bag a sixth title. 

"That I have played 400 events is crazy,” said Fichardt. “I don’t feel old at all! To play that many events out here, I’m pretty blessed to be out here that long, to play so many events, and for the ET to be such a huge part of my life. It’s been a great journey so far and I’m looking forward to the next 400.

Playing in Kenya is awesome. I haven’t been to Kenya, it’s my first time. It’s very African. When we got off the plane onto the bus, African music was playing. It’s amazing and people here are so friendly, it feels awesome to be here," he offered ahead of the Magical Kenya Open last week.