Kenya Open defending champion Guido back for more glory

Italian Guido Migliozzi was the last man standing as Kenya hosted her first main European Tour golf event, Magical Kenya Open, in 2019 at the Karen Country Club where he posted 16 under par 268 to win. 

Migliozzi is back for the 2021 edition that tees off on Thursday, 18 March. Playing alongside South African George Coetzee and Indian Shubhankar Sharma, the defending champion teed off from hole ten at 8 am. 

“It is a good feeling to be back. I have some great memories from this course. As the tournament says, it is ‘Magical’ so it is very nice to be back. I like the pressure, I like to be on the course with my caddie starting every single shot with a good strategy. It is the kind of feeling that you have when you are competing for a title. In 2019, it was not over until the very end because there were four or five players, only one shot apart. The second shot on the 18th, the last hole, was incredible. It just went straight to the pin; it was so good. I was thinking I had to be aggressive, I have always been aggressive, and it went really well because I hit the pin and the pin position was tough. I was confident with myself and I had good yardage so I just went for the pin,” explained the defending champion in a pre-event interview ahead of his tee-off. 

Karen’s course has reasonably flat fairways, with numerous small water hazards. The greens are small, as well as undulating, and sown with Bentgrass. Although not a long course by modern Tour standards, there are a number of subtle dog legs, so finding the right part of the narrow fairways off the tee will be important.

Accuracy, rather than power, will be the key ingredient this week when golfers will need to determine the best angle into the pin to set up a birdie opportunity. There is an abundance of par-fours that are under 400 yards in length.

“The golf course is great. I like it because it is tight and you have to shape the ball. You need to have really good control of your swing, of your ball. I really like it and it is a good test for everyone, with the altitude, and it is firm. It will be a great week for sure. If you hit the green you will 100 percent have a birdie chance so it is very nice and I am sure everyone will enjoy the week,” the golfer added.