The Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa returns to the DP World Tour schedule as the 10th event of the 2026 season and the opener of a three-week African swing, following a one-week break. This marks the 57th edition of the tournament, which has been part of the DP World Tour since 2019 after years on the Challenge Tour. With a $2.7 million purse and 144 players in the field, it’s a full-field event with a 36-hole cut to the top 65 and ties. The tournament rotates venues in Nairobi but shifts back to Karen Country Club for 2026 after four years at Muthaiga Golf Club. Defending champion Jacques Kruyswijk headlines a field featuring five of the past six winners, emphasizing strong iron play and altitude-adjusted distance control on a classical layout.
Recent form favors players like Angel Ayora and Thriston Lawrence, who have excelled in the early 2026 Race to Dubai.
Venue Location
Karen Country Club is located in the upscale Karen suburb of Nairobi, Kenya, at the foot of the Ngong Hills, approximately 10 miles southwest of the city center. Established in 1937 and designed by Remy Martin, this private members’ club has hosted the Magical Kenya Open 12 times previously (most recently in 2021). The course sits at an elevation of about 1,850 meters (6,070 feet) above sea level, which reduces effective playing distances by 10-15% due to thinner air. No water hazards dominate, but tree-lined fairways and undulating terrain demand precision.
The club also features non-golf amenities like tennis courts and a pool, but the focus is on its championship-caliber golf course.
Tee time is scheduled for:
- Round 1 (Thursday): First tee times start at 6:30 AM EAT (UTC+3; 10:30 PM PST on February 18). Notable early groups include 6:30 AM: John Axelsen, Joel Girrbach, Manuel Elvira; 7:30 AM: Jacques Kruyswijk (defending champ), Darius van Driel, Guido Migliozzi.
- Round 2 (Friday): Tee times begin around 6:30 AM EAT, with groups reversed from Round 1.
- Rounds 3-4 (Weekend): Tee times from approximately 7:00 AM EAT onward, based on standings, with leaders teeing off in the afternoon.
- TV Coverage: Live on Sky Sports Golf in Europe (starting 10:00 AM GMT Thursday/Friday), Golf Channel in the US (times vary by region), and streaming via DP World Tour app.
All rounds are at Karen Country Club, with standard 72-hole stroke play.
Weather Conditions
Nairobi’s high-altitude climate (semi-arid with afternoon breezes) could influence play, especially with potential softening from pre-tournament rain. Forecast for Karen (all times EAT, highs/lows in °C/°F):
| Day | High/Low (°C/°F) | Precipitation Chance | Wind | Conditions |
| Thursday (Feb 19) | 29/16 (84/61) | 20% (isolated afternoon showers) | 5-10 mph (gusts to 15 mph) | Mostly sunny, warm; light winds favor scoring. |
| Friday (Feb 20) | 30/17 (86/63) | 10% | 5-8 mph | Sunny, dry; ideal for low rounds. |
| Saturday (Feb 21) | 29/17 (84/63) | 15% (possible light rain) | 8-12 mph | Partly cloudy, mild breezes. |
| Sunday (Feb 22) | 27/16 (81/61) | 40% (showers, potentially heavier) | 10-15 mph (gusts to 20 mph) | Cooler, wetter; could firm up leaderboard battles. |
Overnight rain on Wednesday (February 18) may soften fairways initially, but dry conditions Thursday-Saturday should allow for faster play. Winds remain light overall, but Sunday’s moisture could challenge approaches and putting.
Course Conditions
Karen Country Club is a par-70 layout measuring 7,056 yards (reduced effective length at altitude). It’s a classical parkland course with tree-lined fairways, small undulating Bentgrass greens, and strategic bunkering.
Key features:
- Fairways/Rough: Narrow Kikuyu grass fairways (tree-lined but not overly tight) with Kikuyu-mix rough up to 3 inches, punishing offline shots but allowing recovery.
- Greens: Small Bentgrass surfaces (re-laid in 2015) averaging 5,000 sq ft, running at 12-12.5 on the Stimpmeter—fast, true, and sloped, rewarding accurate irons and lag putting.
- Bunkers/Hazards: 58 bunkers and occasional streams; no major water, but doglegs and elevation changes (hilly front nine) emphasize positioning.
- Difficulty: Stroke average was 69.76 in 2021 (last at Karen); toughest holes include the par-4 3rd (now shortened from par-5, 519 yards) and par-4 18th (456 yards).
Recent updates: Routing reversed to members’ play, par adjusted to 70; pre-event rain may soften conditions, but expect firm greens by weekend.
Tournament History
Founded in 1967 as the Kenya Open, this event has a storied legacy with winners including legends like Seve Ballesteros (1978) and Ian Woosnam (1986). It joined the DP World Tour in 2019, elevating its status. Multiple winners include Maurice Bembridge (3 times: 1969, 1971, 1979). Recent editions have seen international dominance, with no Kenyan winner since the inaugural event (though locals like Dismas Indiza often contend).
Recent winners:
| Year | Winner | Score | To Par | Margin | Runner-Up(s) | Venue |
| 2025 | Jacques Kruyswijk (RSA) | 266 | -18 | 2 strokes | John Parry | Muthaiga GC |
| 2024 | Darius van Driel (NED) | 270 | -14 | 2 strokes | Joe Dean, Nacho Elvira | Muthaiga GC |
| 2023 | Jorge Campillo (ESP) | 266 | -18 | 2 strokes | Masahiro Kawamura | Muthaiga GC |
| 2022 | Ashun Wu (CHN) | 268 | -16 | 4 strokes | Hurly Long, Thriston Lawrence, Aaron Cockerill, David Samooja | Muthaiga GC |
| 2021 | Justin Harding (RSA) | 263 | -21 | 2 strokes | Kurt Kitayama | Karen CC |
Notable: The event often produces first-time DP World Tour winners (e.g., van Driel in 2024). Kenyan exemptions include top locals like Mutahi Kibugu.
Recent Player Forms
The 2026 DP World Tour season is underway with the International Swing, highlighted by Patrick Reed’s dominance (two wins, leading Race to Dubai). Breakout stars and consistent performers shine, based on SG: Total, top-10s, and early results.
- Angel Ayora (ESP): Rookie sensation with 11 top-10s in 2025; two early 2026 top-10s; strong irons (ranked 12th SG: Approach).
- Thriston Lawrence (RSA): T2 in 2022 here; two 2026 wins; 2nd in Race to Dubai; excels in accuracy (top-5 Driving Accuracy).
- Hennie du Plessis (RSA): T5 at Karen in 2021; recent top-10 streak (3 in last 4); +2.1 SG: Tee-to-Green.
- Calum Hill (SCO): Best current form (eight top-10s in last 12); T5 here in 2025; leads SG: Approach in recent starts.
- Jacques Kruyswijk (RSA, Defending Champ): Bogey-free weekend in 2025 win; two top-10s early 2026; strong scrambler (78%).
- Others Trending Up: Jayden Schaper (2 wins, 2nd Race to Dubai); Veer Ahlawat (8 straight top-6s on PGTI); Dan Bradbury (consistent top-20s); Ewen Ferguson (back-to-back wins late 2025).
Newcomers like Marco Penge (3 wins in 2025) add depth.
Player Matchups
Round 1 tee times (EAT, selected notable groups from Tee 1 unless noted):
- 6:30 AM: John Axelsen, Joel Girrbach, Manuel Elvira.
- 6:50 AM: Calum Hill, Antoine Rozner, Jacob Skov Olesen (strong form trio).
- 7:10 AM: Thriston Lawrence, Hennie du Plessis, Angel Ayora (favorites matchup).
- 7:30 AM: Jacques Kruyswijk, Darius van Driel, Guido Migliozzi (past winners group).
- 11:40 AM (Tee 10): Ewen Ferguson, Dan Bradbury, Veer Ahlawat (trending internationals).
- Featured: Local Kenyans like Dismas Indiza (around 7:00 AM); check DP World Tour site for updates due to weather.
Key head-to-heads: Ayora vs. Lawrence (young gun vs. veteran); Hill vs. Kruyswijk (form vs. defending champ).
