(Left to Right) Pro Golfers Dismas indiza, Zimbabwe’s Robson Chinhoi, Samuel Njoroge, Rizwan Charania, Jacob Okello, Greg Snow and Mathew Omondi.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL), through its premium spirits brand Johnnie Walker, will be the Presenting Partner at this year’s Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship.

The tournament, which is part of the elite European Tour, will be held from 18th to March 21, 2021, at the Karen Country Club. This year, 156 players are expected at the tournament, with over 30 countries being represented. They will include 12 Kenyan pros, with Nigeria, Uganda, and Zimbabwe being represented by a player each.

The sponsorship also extends to the Kenya Savannah Classic which KBL will be the Official Alcoholic Beverage Sponsor. The event, which is also part of the European Tour, will be held from 23rd to March 26, 2021, at the same venue.

Speaking during the announcement of the sponsorship, KBL Managing Director John Musunga noted that decision is founded on the Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship’s growing stature, which resonates with KBL’s goals, making it a strategic partner for the organization.

(Left to Right) KBL Managing Director, John Musunga, local Pro Golfer, Dismas Indiza and Kenya Open Golf Limited Director, Francis Okwara.

“The stature of the Magical Kenya Open, on the global stage, continues to grow, gaining prominence and becoming entrenched as an integral part of the annual European Tour calendar. In the process, it continues to mirror KBL’s goals and objectives, making it a natural partnership platform for us over the years,” he said.

He further noted that the decision to grant Kenya two European Tour events this year is a testament to the growing stature of golf in the country, adding that the doubleheader will give Kenya credence on the global golf scene.

KBL will also support local and regional golfers at the tournaments to meet their needs as they strive to adhere to the strict European Tour COVID-19 protocols. This support will be in terms of catering to their needs while they are restricted in the health and safety bubble across both events. As part of its offering, KBL will also reward local players who make the cut after the first two rounds of each tournament with KES 100,000 each.

KBL will also offer a hole-in-one prize for the first player who will hole-out-in-one at the par-3, 16th hole across both tournaments.

“As part of this sponsorship, we will have a hole-in-one prize for the first player to hole-out-in-one at the par-3, 16th tournament hole across both events, with the winners taking home our rarest, finest, and most beloved Johnnie Walker brands. I wish all golfers the very best as they try their luck at achieving this rare feat,” said Musunga.

KBL Managing Director, John Musunga, at Uhuru Park during the official announcement of the organization’s sponsorship for the 2021 Magical Kenya Open presented by Johnnie Walker.

As both events will be closed to spectators, KBL plans to have activations at Sigona, Vet Lab, and Muthaiga Golf Clubs, allowing enthusiasts to follow the action live on TV.

“KBL will be having a series of activations at Sigona, Vet Lab, and Muthaiga golf clubs to allow enthusiasts to follow the action from Karen live on big screens while experiencing unrivaled KBL hospitality as they would have had they had the opportunity to be at Karen,” added Musunga.

Speaking during the same event, Kenya Open Golf Limited Director Francis Okwara lauded KBL for the partnership and supporting the tournament even during the difficult circumstances occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are grateful to KBL for its partnership renewal for the 2021 Magical Kenya Open. This speaks to the brand’s continued commitment to the growth and development of golf – and sports in general – in the country. We are pleased that KBL has continued to stand by us, even now, under tough COVID-19 restrictions and circumstances. It shows that, indeed, KBL is passionate about the growth of the tournament and sincere in its sponsorship,” he said.

The events will be broadcasted to over 490 million homes and will locally be broadcasted to millions of households on free-to-air television.

Previous golf action.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

SuperSport viewers on DStv can look forward to seeing all the action from the WGC-Mexico Championship at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida from 25 to 28 February 2021.

SuperSport is the ultimate destination for Golf fans, with an unparalleled selection of action from around the world.

The WGC-Mexico is one of four annual World Golf Championship events – it is usually held at the Club de Golf Chapultepec just outside Mexico City, but logistical challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic have forced a move to The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida.

“The PGA Tour is grateful for its continued partnership with Grupo Salinas as we navigate the unique challenges created by the pandemic,” said Ty Votaw, PGA Tour Executive Vice President, International. “While we work toward returning to Mexico in 2022, we are appreciative of the collective effort to bring this event to a worthy venue in The Concession Golf Club, which is renowned as one of the top courses in the state of Florida.”

Club de Golf Chapultepec hosted the World Golf Championships four times, with Dustin Johnson (2017, 2019), Phil Mickelson (2018) and Patrick Reed (2020) winning. The narrow, tree-lined course is also known for being the highest-altitude course on the PGA Tour.

WGC-Mexico’s new venue is named for one of the greatest acts of sportsmanship in the game’s history. The club was designed by Jack Nicklaus in association with fellow World Golf Hall of Famer Tony Jacklin. Nicklaus conceded a two-foot putt to Jacklin on the final hole of the 1969 Ryder Cup.
The gesture, known as “the concession”, guaranteed the first tie in Ryder Cup history. The United States still retained the Cup with the tie, but it would have won the Cup outright if Jacklin, who’d won that year’s Open Championship, missed the short putt.

“I don’t believe you would have missed that, but I’d never give you the opportunity in these circumstances,” Jacklin recalled Nicklaus telling him.

All eyes will be on a potential showdown between two of the world’s best players, Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson, with the pair having had an epic battle in the 2019 edition of the WGC-Mexico.

“If they both play their best golf, I think Rory beats him,” former pro golfer Brandel Chamblee explained. “Rory won majors by eight. DJ at this point in his career is winning tournaments by wide margins. I think it is very close. I’d love to see Rory play his best golf.

“How many times have they gone head to head? WGC Mexico, DJ got the better of him. I remember seeing Rory shortly after that and he said when you run into someone playing that type of golf and you’re not playing as well you just can’t beat him.”

Other players to watch include the likes of defending WGC-Mexico champion Patrick Reed, Brooks Koepka, Bubba Watson, Jon Rahm and South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen.

No rival can compete with SuperSport’s coverage. Our viewers on DStv can see all their favourite golf stars dominating courses across the world. Visit www.dstv.com to subscribe or upgrade, and join in on the excitement. And while you’re on the move, you can stream matches on DStv.

WGC-Mexico broadcast details

Thursday 25 February

20:00: Day 1 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

Friday 26 February

20:00: Day 2 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

Saturday 27 February

19:00: Day 3 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

Sunday 28 February

19:00: Day 4 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf