Kenya keen on reviving the Safari Tour Golf Championship

The Kenyan government is eager to revive the Safari Tour Golf Championship following the disappointing performance of East African professionals at the 56th edition of the Magical Kenya Open, which concluded on Sunday.

No African player outside South Africa managed to make the cut in this year’s tournament, which featured a prize pool of sh9.1 billion and was presented by Absa.

The event was won by South African golfer Jacques Kruyswijk. Additionally, none of the 14 East African players advanced to the money bracket, as all were eliminated after the first 36 holes.

Previously, the Safari Tour served as a crucial pathway for East African golfers and others outside the DP World Tour to qualify for the lucrative Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa. For instance, Uganda’s Ronald Rugumayo qualified through the 2023 edition and made history by becoming the first Ugandan to make the cut at last year’s event held at Muthaiga Golf Club. However, the regional professionals’ tournament, which typically spans 12 legs across Uganda and Kenya, was not held last year due to logistical challenges.

Now, Peter K. Tum, the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Sports in Kenya’s Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports & Arts, is advocating for the revival of the Safari Tour to better prepare regional golfers for the Kenya Open.

“Federations must create pathways to ensure more Kenyans are supported to compete and potentially win such tournaments. There needs to be a dialogue with the government to ensure the event returns, enabling us to nurture talent and help them compete more effectively,” Tum stated during his address to golf enthusiasts at the Magical Kenya Open closing ceremony.

“When this conversation takes place, the government will be fully involved in the event,” he added.

Tum also emphasized that the over sh8 billion contribution toward the Kenya Open should be utilized to strengthen the Safari Tour and other developmental pathways for junior golfers. This, he believes, will help build a stronger foundation for regional talent and improve their competitiveness in future tournaments.
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