Big dreams for Kitata at the Magical Kenya Open

_________________

Despite not having won any tournament as a professional golfer, US-based Ugandan professional golfer Willy Deus Kitata sees his career to date as a success, having scaled the heights under unpredictable conditions.

Kitata turned pro in 2015 after winning the amateur Uganda Open at Kitante before relocating to the US a few years later. But he has not registered any wins, although he says he never enters a tournament for second place. He has played in several DP World Tour and Q-school events, among others, with little success, only coming close to making the cut in Italy and Portugal last year. However, this week’s breakthrough saw him win a regional qualifier to earn a spot in the lucrative Magical Kenya Open for the first time. Kitata says he is ready to seize the moment.

“It’s a dream come true. Since the first day I held a golf club in my hands, I have always wanted to play this tournament because it is the biggest we have in the region. It is a shame that it is the only one in the East African region. We don’t have DP World Tour or Sunshine Tour events, but for me to be here representing myself and my country and inspiring the young generation behind me is a dream come true, especially for people with the same background as mine,” Kitata said before he played his first round on Wednesday.

“I’m grateful to the DP World Tour for giving us an opportunity to qualify through the 36-hole qualifier because it is because of that I’m here today. I wish we could have many such opportunities because we would then have many golfers trying out their chances, but there aren’t many such opportunities.”

“I prepared well, and I had a mission when I travelled from the States a day before, so I came here for a mission, and I’m thankful and so proud of myself that I was able to do that. Now the bigger business is ahead of us, so I’m excited, and I’m just pumped up. It was great to qualify; now it is time to put my head down and do my job,” he stated.

The excitement will only be palpable if he makes the cut and joins the success of his compatriot Ronald Rugumayo, who made it last year.

“Whatever I do, I try to be the best. Even without so much success, I always try again. So, the expectation for this week is very simple: to give it all my best and win it. I didn’t come here just to make the cut, though it is part of the process. I’m in there, I’m looking for the bigger fish, I’m here for the win and not anything else.”

Willy Kitata is making his maiden appearance in the MKO main event at Muthaiga. (File/Michael Nsubuga)

“I’m in the best mental state I need to be in this week, my swing is good, and everything I’m doing. I changed the entire management and coaching staff, so I’m really in good spirits, and I’m looking forward to a great week as we close the deal.”

Kitata has played at the Muthaiga course before as an amateur more than once and has good memories of the course, having made two second-place finishes there.

“It fits my game very well. It's in great condition. The DP World Tour does a great job in the way they run their events. Their organisation is world-class, so we are going to put up a show and a world-class performance.”

He says his transition from Uganda to the USA wasn’t easy because he had no sponsor and has been struggling on his own. He does everything himself, which is the biggest challenge, as the opponents he competes with are far better off and come from wealthier families, unlike him, who grew up on the streets of Kampala.

“So, competing with the best, to me, is a measure of success, and being able to travel from the US to other countries without stress is also a success. I have had a few events where I finished second, a few top ten finishes in the PGA Tour in the States and in the minor league. I haven’t had a win since I turned pro, but I have had some success, and I have had some good finishes.”

Kitata has not forgotten his boyhood caddie, Isiah Junior, from Entebbe Club, who he says has never betrayed him, unlike a few others.

“I fell in love with the kid, put him under my wings, and we have been through a lot of struggles together. We have had some success, and we have done things our way because he understands my game, and he understands me as an individual.

“A lot of people don’t understand me well, but this man understands me very well, so I’m so glad that he was able to make it here and to sacrifice everything to come here and be on my back. It means a lot to me. He is a great kid, and we are looking forward to some great success this week as we write our story,” Kitata stated.

Kitata is a member of the PGA National at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida and trains at Full Process Golf Academy, run by Michael Robinson.