Kenya is set to become the first African country to stage a first double-header of the European Tour golf tournaments in March.
This comes following the upgrading of the Kenya Savannah Classic to the 2021 international schedule.
The Classic joins Magical Kenya Open, that became part of a full European Tour event in 2019, as two of the biggest golfing events in Kenya.
Kenya Open became a European Challenge Tour event in 1991 and then a full European Tour event two years ago, though it was never held in 2020 due to Covid-19 outbreak.
Italian Guido Migliozzi is the current holder of the title that he claimed by a shot.
Kenya Savannah Classic, a €1million, 72-hole-stroke play event will take place from Tuesday, March 23 to Friday March 26, at Karen Country Club, in Nairobi.
Meanwhile, the Magical Kenya Open, will be played at the same venue, in the week beforehand, from Thursday March 18 to Sunday March 21.
“The addition of the Kenya Savannah Classic to our 2021 schedule offers vital playing opportunities for our members, while having two consecutive tournaments at Karen Country Club follows our strategy of playing in geographical clusters to reduce travelling as much as possible at the moment,” Keith Pelley, the European Tour’s CEO, was quoted by the Europeantour.com.
Both tournaments will be played under the auspices of the European Tour’s health strategy, which will be aligned with Kenyan government guidance, the organizers announced.
“These two consecutive events at Karen Country Club will extend the proud tradition of professional tournament golf in our country, which dates back to the late 1960s, and we look forward to once again showcasing Kenya to an international television audience.”
The Kenya Open was first played in 1967 and has been won by some of golf’s most notable names, including Seve Ballesteros (1978), Ian Woosnam (1986), Christy O’Connor Jnr (1990) and Trevor Immelman (2000).
The Kenya Savannah Classic will be the 16th new event created by the European Tour since its resumption last July following a three-month suspension of golf tournaments due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.
It’s reintroduction now restores the 2021 Race to Dubai to 42 tournaments, following the cancellation of the Oman Open.
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