Magical Kenya Open Will Be Star-Studded And Free Of Coronavirus- Obath

NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya Open Golf Limited tournament director Patrick Obath says cancellation of The Maybank Championship and The Volvo China Open over coronavirus fears is a blessing for the Magical Kenya Open.

The European Tour and Magical Kenya Open, set for March 12-15 at the Karen Country Club, will not feature players from Italy or China who have been in those countries in the recent weeks.

Organisers have taken precaution to ensure this year’s event which is taking place for second time as a European Tour’s “Race to Dubai’’, is safe from the Covid-19 coronavirus.

“The cancellation of the two events is a blessing for us because it means most of the top players will come for the Magical Kenya Open scheduled for March 12 to 15 at Karen Country Club.

“We have five past Kenya Open champions dubbed “The Big Five’’ who will be parading at Karen: They are Hayden Porteous (South Africa) 2015 winner, Sebastian Soderberg (Switzerland) 2016 champion, Aaron Rai (England) 2017, Lorenzo Gagli (Italy) 2018 and defending champion Guido Migliozzi (Italy) who won last year,” Obath stated.

Maybank Championship was due to take place at Saujana Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia from April 16 to 19, while the Volvo China Open was to follow from April 23 to 26 at Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen.

Speaking during a media briefing at Karen Country Club on Monday, Obath said:“We as Kenya Open Golf Limited and the European Tour have taken measures to make sure that all players coming to play in the open safe by banning any player from Italy or China who has been in those countries in recent weeks."

Obath said that though the entry list of 144 players include Italians and Chinese, they have been playing out of their countries hence they are free of the deadly virus. But Obath assured Kenyan golf enthusiasts of a star-studded field because that two major events.