DEFENDING CHAMPION: Italian Guido Migliozzi claimed his maiden European Tour title here in 2019, with the 2020 event cancelled die to COVID-19. Migliozzi reached a total of 16-under at Karen Country Club to claim a one-shot win.

COURSE: Located in Nairobi, Karen Country Club has been a regular host of the Kenya Open in the past and is renowned as one of the best maintained and prettiest courses in the country.

Measuring 6,329 metres this week and playing to a par of 71, Karen Country Club is populated with many indigenous trees and is built near the house of author Karen Blixen, who wrote Out of Africa.

PRIZEMONEY: EUR 1,000,000.

PLAYERS TO WATCH …

The defending champion, Migliozzi, shared runner-up honours in Qatar last week and returns to the same venue he won this title two years – all suggesting he will be in the mix once again this week.

The Italian has plenty of power that will help navigate Karen Country Club again this week, and plays his best golf when his ball striking is on song, which typically leads to confidence with the putter, an area he can be very streaky.

South Africa’s Justin Harding doesn’t have a lot of form to show so far in 2021, but he was runner-up here in 2019 and the familiar surrounds of a venue he has had prior success should help him as he searches for his game.

Harding is a veteran of the Sunshine Tour and tournament golf in Africa, meaning he shouldn’t ever be discounted in the sort of conditions the players will face this week. When he played his best golf on the biggest stages, Harding’s putting was the difference maker that even had him contending in majors, and he has shown promising signs with the flatstick of late.

RIGHT: Guido Migliozzi took home the Magical Kenya Open in 2019, the event’s first time as a fully-fledged European Tour event. PHOTO: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images.

Of the two-strong Aussie contingent, Maverick Antcliff arrives with the most positive form after recording a share of 19th in Qatar last week.

Typically one who keeps the ball in play and contends when he gets hot with the putter, there has been very promising signs in Antcliff’s ball striking so far this year in his minimal tournament play that suggests he will be a European Tour winner before too long.

72-HOLE RECORD: Shared by James Lee (1995), Maarten Lafeber (1999) and Lee James (2002), the scoring record of 265 (19-under) was set during the tournament’s time as part of the secondary Challenge Tour schedule. 

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: No previous Australian winners.

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Maverick Antcliff and Scott Hend.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 9pm – 2am)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 9pm – 2am)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 507 LIVE 8:30pm – 1am)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 8:30pm – 1am)
*AEDT, check local guides