Golf ace Kibugu promises bounce back after difficult Germany outing

Kenya’s best golfer Mutahi Kibugu says he will come back stronger after failing to make cut on his first professional tee off outside of Africa in the DP World Tour.

In what was his second ever golf event outside of Africa, the 22-year-old had a difficult first round at this year’s Porsche European Open hosted at the Green Eagle Golf Courses, Hamburg, Germany.

Kibugu returned a score of 18 over par 91 on the first round at the par 73 course after recording just one birdie at the par five 15th and, seven bogeys and five double bogeys, including going three shots over at the par four tenth and par five 11th for the score that effectively made it impossible to make cut.

He returned to the course for a better second round, picking three birdies, seven bogeys and just one double bogey at the par five ninth for six over par and a combined 24 over par total for the two rounds.

Replying to a follower on Instagram who termed his missing cut unlucky (79 of the 156 golfers who teed off on the opening round made cut), Kibugu wrote “You have those weeks man, we’ll come back stronger.”

Three weeks ago, Kibugu opened his Sunshine Tour season in Zimbabwe where he finished tied 33.

“What a week it was in Zimbabwe at the prestigious @royalhararegolfclub where I managed to finish T33 and start my season of in decent fashion. It's been an exciting few months for me on the golf course.

I'm just happy to say I'm making progress and smashing every goal no matter how big or small it is. Thank you to my friends and family for the continued support.

Off to Germany for the Porsche open in few weeks’ time, cannot wait to tee it up! (sic),” he wrote after his outing in the Southern Africa country.

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According to the course rating of the DGV, the Porsche North Course, an 18-hole course that is part of the larger Green Eagles facility and the venue for the Porsche European Open, from the Champions Tee is the most difficult course in Germany.

The North Course, which opened in 2008 and has been called the Porsche North Course since 2018, covers a total of 86 hectares and was designed from the outset to meet the needs of international professional tournaments.

With a length of 7,057 m from the Champions Tee, it is the longest course on the European Tour and is one of the 10 longest courses in the world.