Magical Kenya Open 2026 preview, picks & analysis
By: Derek Clements | Edited: Mon 16 Feb 2026
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There is some good news for the field at this week’s Magical Kenya Open - Patrick Reed has decided to give it a miss. The American has made a sensational start to the campaign, winning the Dubai Desert Classic and Qatar Masters and finishing second at the Bahrain Championship and has a comfortable lead at the head of the Race to Dubai.
Twelve months ago, South Africa’s Jacques Kruyswijk strode to an emotional maiden victory, keeping his cool throughout the final round to claim the Kenya Open.
He shot a final round of 67 for an 18-under-par total, two shots better than England’s John Parry.
He has been through some tough times during his professional career and there have been times when he has been on the verge of quitting the game.
But he held off the challenge of Parry, who continued his fine form since returning to the tour - he would go on to secure a PGA Tour card and is now living the dream across the Pond.
However, this day belonged to Kruyswijk, who finally won in his 139th start. He led at the start of the day and quickly found himself trailing playing partner Parry but he remained calm throughout and battled his way back to the top of the leaderboard. He was able to enjoy his walk down the 18th fairway with a three-shot lead, the result never in doubt.
Struggling to fight back the tears, he said: "It is special. I am lost for words. This is for my family, my friends and for South Africa. It makes me very proud. The putt I holed for birdie on the 16th meant everything. It gave me a three-shot lead and gave me momentum. I am super proud of the way I played today. I am now looking forward to the South African Open, which is a huge event for me. The support has been unbelievable, the fans have been awesome."
A strong field this week includes Dan Bradbury, Thriston Lawrence, Freddy Schott, Calum Hill, Ewen Ferguson, Guido Migliozzi and Matteo Manassero.
(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)
Hill will be looking to secure a PGA Tour card this year.
He attended Western New Mexico University from 2012 to 2016, finishing runner-up in the NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championship in 2016. He graduated with a degree in accounting, but stayed on to complete a Masters in Business Administration and was an assistant coach for his university golf team.
The Scot turned professional in 2017 and made his first major appearance the following year after going through sectional qualifying to compete in the US Open at Shinnecock.
He joined the HotelPlanner Tour for 2018 and won the Galgorm Resort & Spa Northern Ireland Open on his fifth start. Hill won twice on the HotelPlanner Tour in 2019, at the Euram Bank Open and then Made in Denmark Challenge to finish second on the Road to Mallorca Rankings and earn graduation to the DP World Tour.
He secured his maiden DP World Tour victory at the 2021 Cazoo Classic and moved into the Top 100 on the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time. Hill finished 54th in the Race to Dubai Rankings in consecutive seasons in 2023 and 2024 before going on to win his second DP World Tour title at the 2025 Joburg Open, defeating Kruyswijk and Shaun Norris in a playoff. And he has shown some fine early form in 2026, finishing second at both the Bahrain Championship (which he should have won) and the Qatar Masters.
Tournament Winners:
The inaugural event was won in 2019 by Guido Migliozzi, in 2021 by Justin Harding, in 2022 by Ashun Wu, in 2023 by Jorge Campillo, in 2024 by Darius Van Driel and last year by Jacques Kruyswijk. There was no event in 2020 because of the pandemic.
The Course:
Karen Country Club is a par 70 measuring 7,056 yards, which is short by modern standards. But the tight fairways are tree-lined and there are also several water hazards so it favours straight hitters and is not a course that can be overpowered.
Form Guide:
Calum Hill has enjoyed back-to-back second-place finishes in Bahrain and Qatar. He should have won in Bahrain and will be looking to put that right this week.
Prize Money:
The total prize fund is $2.5m, with 3,500 Race to Dubai points up for grabs.
How to Watch:
Thursday, February 19, Friday, February 20, Sky Sports Golf, 10am, Saturday, February 21, Sky Sports Golf, 9.30am; Sunday, February 22, Sky Sports Golf, 8.30am.
To Win:
Calum Hill. In fabulous form
Each Way:
Thriston Lawrence. Looking to get his career back on track
Each Way:
Ewen Ferguson. Great ball striker
Five to Follow:
Calum Hill. Terrific temperament
Thriston Lawrence. Terrific ball striker on his day
Ewen Ferguson. Flying Scotsman
Freddy Schott. Full of confidence
Richard Sterne. Trying to turn clock back
Five Outsiders to Watch:
Matteo Manassero. Hoping for a more successful season in 2026
Kiradech Aphibarnrat. Has so much talent
Justin Harding. Struggling to rediscover his best
James Morrison. Everything is a bonus
Shubhankar Sharma. Has shown some flashes of his best
About the author
Derek Clements is a seasoned sports journalist and regular Golfshake contributor, specialising in tour coverage, opinion pieces, and feature writing. With a long career in national newspapers and golf media, he has reported on the game across Europe, the United States and Australia. A passionate golfer, he has played and reviewed numerous renowned courses, with personal favourites including Pebble Beach, Kingsbarns, Aldeburgh, Old Thorns and the K Club. His love of the game informs his thoughtful commentary on both professional golf and the wider golfing community.
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