This article is part of our DraftKings Euro Tour series.
KENYA OPEN
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Course: Karen CC
Yardage: 6,922
Par: 71
Tournament Preview
This week marks the first time Kenya Open is part of the European Tour schedule. The event has been part of the Challenge Tour since 1991. The tournament will be contested at Karen Country Club in Nairobi. The tree-lined course consists of narrow kikuyu grass fairways, with slight undulation. There are bunkers and water hazards throughout, protecting the bentgrass greens. Distance off the tee should not be a concern, with the course being at high altitude and balls going further then normal. Accuracy will be the main focus this week, as well as recent form.
Key Stats to Winning at Karen CC
SG: Tee To Green
SG: Approach
SG: Off The Tee
SG: Putting
Past Champions (as part of Challenge Tour)
2018 - Lorenzo Gagli
2017 - Aaron Rai
2016 - Sebastian Soderberg
2015 - Haydn Porteous
2014 - Jake Roos
DraftKings Picks (with odds)
Jeff Winther $9,400 (25/1)
There are many good picks at the top, including Erik Van Rooyen. I am going to drop a bit in price to save some money, and not have to dig so low later. Winther is my favorite play at only $9,400. He comes to Kenya having made the cut in four of his first five starts this season. He also has been heating up as of late. Winther was T14 last week in Qatar and T12 the week prior in Oman. He is a good ball striker and is ranked 36th on tour in SG: approach.
Sebastian Soderberg $8,800 (45/1)
The Swede has had a rough start to the season, missing a handful of cuts. His game had a big turn around a couple of weeks back at Oman Open, where he finished T21. Last week he was T20 at Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. His accuracy isn't as precise as I would like, but he is great around the green should he get out of position. Soderberg won on this course in 2016, that along with his recent form will give him confidence coming in. I like his chances this week.
Robert MacIntyre $8,300 (50/1)
Macintyre has had a steady season so far, his highest finish being T15 twice. Both of those being in South Africa, on courses that should correlate nicely with Karen CC. He is a good driver of the golf ball, ranking 34th on tour in SG: off the tee. His irons have been solid this year as well, hitting over 72 percent of greens in regulation.
Jin-ho Choi $7,800 (55/1)
Choi arrives at Karen CC red hot after finishing T2 at Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. He shot 64 in his final round on Sunday. He is an accurate golfer, and his lack of length off the tee will not be of concern this week. Choi is ranked 16th in driving accuracy and 67th in SG: approach. He is another golfer who has played well on comparable courses in South Africa.
