The Magical Kenya Open takes place at Muthaiga Golf Club, where Ashan Wu returns to defend the title he won last year.
The Chinese player produced a short game masterclass in 2022 to win by four shots over Canadian Aaron Cockerill, German Hurly Long and South African Thriston Lawrence. While there is no Lawrence this year, the other runners-up return along with Wu.
While Wu eventually won in commanding style, he didn’t have it all his own way, and started the final round four shots behind Scot Ewen Ferguson. However, Ferguson’s lead soon dissipated and, eventually, he finished tied for eighth. He returns this year, hoping to improve on that performance.
It’s another Scot who is particularly fancied to do well though. World No.94 Robert MacIntyre is yet to post a top 10 finish in 2023, but with Ryder Cup points up for grabs, he will be hoping to recover the form that saw him win last September’s Italian Open at the venue for this year’s biennial tournament , Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.
World No.82 Adrian Otaegui has also shown what he’s capable of in recent months, with a dominant performance in October’s Andalucia Masters and runner-up position in December’s Alfred Dunhill Championship. The Spaniard will be confident of another strong showing this week. Elsewhere, Frenchman Antoine Rozner has produced top 10 finishes in his last two tournaments and will hope to continue that good run of form this week.
Another former winner since the tournament was added to the DP World Tour schedule in 2019 is South African Justin Harding. He won by two shots in 2021 ahead of Kurt Kitayama, who claimed an enthralling win in last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational on the PGA Tour. Harding returns this week hoping for this third DP World Tour triumph.
Most recently on the DP World Tour, German Marcel Siem won his first title in over eight years Hero Indian Open, and he is looking to continue that momentum this week. Meanwhile, another German fancied to do well is Alexander Knappe, whose tie for sixth in that tournament and tie for third in the Thailand Classic that preceded it suggests he’s perfectly poised to compete well again in a relatively weak field.
Elsewhere, there’s also a place for Englishman Laurie Canter, who replaced Martin Kaymer in the opening tournament of the LIV Golf season at El Camaleon Golf Club in Mexico.
Players will be competing for a purse of $2m. The winner will earn $340,000 while the runner-up will win $220,000.
Below is the prize breakdown and field for the 2023 Magical Kenya Open.
Magical Kenya Open Prize Money 2023
Magical Kenya Open Field 2023
Who’s In The Field For Magical Kenya Open?
Defending champion Ashan Wu returns, while Robert MacIntyre is among the favorites to claim the title. Marcel Siem, who won the Hero Indian Open in the previous DP World Tour event, also plays.
What Is The Prize Money For The Magical Kenya Open?
The tournament offers a purse of $2m. That’s the same amount that was available in the Hero Indian Open held two weeks ago. The winner will earn $340,000, with the runner-up claiming $220,000.