Darius van Driel Player Profile, Key Stats, Recent Results

Dutch golfer Darius van Driel scored a remarkable maiden DP World Tour success, winning the Magical Kenya Open by two shots.

He had an eagle, three birdies and just one dropped shot in a fine final round of 67 at Muthaiga Golf Club to end the week on 14 under, two clear of Nacho Elvira and England's Joe Dean.

Van Driel, who plays Srixon irons and wedges, lost his card last year but came through Qualifying School to secure his playing privileges for the 2024 season, with the 34-year-old's victory seeing him become the first wire-to-wire winner of the campaign.

"It means a lot, I never thought it [winning] would hit this hard," van Driel said. "It is a dream come true. I kept my emotions cool all round, but after that last putt it is all coming out."

• Player Profile
• Key Stats
• Last 10 Events

Van Driel started the day tied for the lead with Manuel Elvira and moved ahead when he followed a birdie at the third by eagling the par-five 10th, then cancelled out a bogey at the next by adding three more birdies on his back nine.

Dean birdied three of his last six holes to register the best result of his career, while compatriot Matthew Jordan was a further stroke back in tied-fourth after a final-round 66. Jordan finished on 11 under with Elvira and Adrian Otaegui, while Scottish duo Connor Syme and Ewen Ferguson shared seventh spot.

Player Profile

Darius van Driel is a late developer. He was born in Leidschendam, Netherlands on June 2, 1989.

He took up golf at the age of 11, winning the Dutch National Strokeplay Championship under-19 in 2007 and under-22 three years later.

He also won the 2008 Dutch National Strokeplay Championship, which earned him entry to that year's KLM Dutch Open where he missed the cut.

He was selected as a member of the Dutch team for the European Amateur Team Championship in 2007 and 2010 and completed a bachelor's degree in Economics and Sports Marketing in Amsterdam.

In 2013 he won the Dutch National Matchplay Championship and in 2014 he finished second at the Lytham and was again selected as a member of the Dutch team for the European Amateur Team Championship. He ended his amateur career by taking second place in the qualifying school for the Alps Tour.

In 2015, van Driel won once on the Alps Tour and finished second five times, winning the order of merit and qualifying for the 2016 Challenge Tour. He kept his card and in 2017 struggled with a back injury.

In 2018, van Driel claimed the first Challenge Tour win by a Dutch golfer in five years, at the Euram Bank Open in Austria and ended the year in 34th place in the rankings.

In 2019 he won the Rolex trophy and had six other top-10 finishes to gain his card for the DP World Tour. He was also voted Dutch Golfer of the year.

In 2021 he finished second in the Porsche Open, fourth in the Dutch Open and had three other top-10 finishes.

He lost his card last year but regained it via qualifying school. His victory in Kenya sees him rise for 27th to sixth place in the Race to Dubai.

Key Stats

Driving Distance - 304.60 Yards

Driving Accuracy - 58.39%

Greens in Regulation - 70.37%

Sand Saves - 45.71%

Putts Per Round - 29.43

Scoring Average - 69.95

Last 10 Events

Magical Kenya Open - 1st

Qatar Masters - CUT

Bahrain Championship - T29th

Alfred Dunhill Championship - T4th

South African Championship - T52nd

Joburg Open - T9th

Qatar Masters - CUT

Andalucia Masters - CUT

Open de Espana - CUT

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship - T25th