By KGG Team

Top-ranked Jon Rahm is among the favorites at this week’s PGA Phoenix Open and the reigning US Open champion says a year-end break refreshed him and more could be coming.

Rahm, who finished in the top eight at all four majors last year, was runner-up at the Tournament of Champions last month in Hawaii and third two weeks ago at Torrey Pines, where he captured his first major title last June.

The Spaniard’s 2 1/2-month break at the end of last year has rejuvenated his game ahead of his start at TPC Scottsdale.

“One of the best decisions I’ve made in my life was taking those 2 1/2 months off,” Rahm said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s something I do more often.

“To have some time to just be home and enjoy the time off is great. This is probably one of the reasons why I’ve started playing so good.

“Even though my game didn’t feel at its best, I feel like I’m refreshed enough. Call it competitive stamina. It’s high enough to where I can actually pull it through and finish strong.

“I’m playing good golf and hopefully starting this week things start clicking a little bit better.”

SuperSport viewers on DStv can look forward to seeing all the action from the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Phoenix, Arizona from Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 February 2022.

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

Formerly known as the Phoenix Open, this tournament was founded in 1932 and has the reputation as ‘The Greatest Show on Grass’. The all-time leaders in terms of wins at this event are the great Arnold Palmer, Gene Littler, Mark Calcavecchia and Phil Mickelson – all of whom have three times to their name.

The defending champion is Brooks Koepka who claimed his second Waste Management Phoenix Open title in 2021, shooting a -19 265 to come home one stroke ahead of Xander Schauffele and Lee-Kyoung hoon.

“It’s been a wild ride for the last year and a half and very frustrating,” Koepka said of his triumph at last year’s tournament. “I’ve had moments where I didn’t know if I was going to be the same, if I could even come back.

“I went through it mentally. I think that’s probably the toughest thing, where you don’t know if you’re ever going to be the same competitor that you were. You go through some real dark places, and it’s not a fun place to be.”

Alongside Koepka, this year’s field includes Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler. “Last year we had one of the strongest fields we have ever had in tournament history, and we look to continue that trend in 2022,” tournament chairman Dr. Michael Golding said.

Another entrant to watch out for is Arizona State University freshman Preston Summerhays, who received the first sponsor exemption into the Open.

“I first started standard bearing at the Waste Management Phoenix Open when I was 10-years-old, so this event is like a major championship to me,” Summerhays said. “To be able to compete against the very best players in the world, in this amazing atmosphere, in my own backyard, is a dream come true.”

The TPC Scottsdale Courses are 7,266 yards, par 71 (Stadium Course) and 7,115 yards, par 71 (Champions Course). The purse for the Waste Management Phoenix Open is $8.2million.

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 the DStv App.

 

Waste Management Phoenix Open broadcast details

All times CAT

 

Thursday 10 February

22:00: Day 1 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

 

Friday 11 February

22:00: Day 2 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

 

Saturday 12 February

20:00: Day 3 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

 

Sunday 13 February

20:00: Day 4 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

The 2022 Magical Kenya Ladies Open tees-off tomorrow, Thursday, February 10th, at the Par-72 PGA-accredited Baobab Course at the Vipingo Ridge in Kilifi County. Kenya’s Naomi Wafula, who makes her sophomore appearance at the event, has been honing her skills at the PGA academy at the Vipingo Ridge and relishing the challenge ahead.

Speaking after her practice round on Wednesday, Naomi, who is one of only four Kenyan golfers taking at the event, said she was excited at the prospect of going up against top international lady golfers, saying she hopes to pick up key learnings.

“I am delighted to be going up against top lady golfers, including Esther Henseleit, who won in 2019. There is a bit of pressure to play against these top golfers, but we are more prepared compared to 2019. For us, it is also a learning opportunity as we also golfers become professional golfers in the future.”

Naomi, a former Kenya National Ladies Golf champion, was also full of praise to the event organizers and sponsors for the work towards the tournament, noting it will motivate more women to participate in the sport.

“We have received a lot of support from KLGU, event organizers, and sponsors, and we are delighted with the efforts that have been put in place to make the tournament a success. This will no doubt encourage more participation of ladies in the sport. It is up to us now to put in the hard work as we represent the country in the competition.”

For her opening round of the campaign, Naomi will have an afternoon tee-off at 1:03 pm in the company of Germany’s Olivia Cowan from Germany and Nuria Iturrioz from Spain. In the 2021 LET season, Olivia finished fifth and ended the year on a high securing status on the LPGA Tour.

She was close to victory individually last year and recorded eight top-10 finishes but did get into the winner’s circle as a captain to Team Cowan at the Aramco Team Series – London. In 2019, she finished tied in 9th at the inaugural Magical Kenya Ladies Open.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s Bhavi Shah and Faith Chemutai will get the 2022 Magical Kenya Ladies Open underway tomorrow when the tournament tees off at 7:45 am at the Par-72, PGA-accredited Baobab Course at the Vipingo Ridge in Kilifi. A field of 94 players will take to the course for the opening round in the quest for top honours at the tournament.

Mercy Nyanchama, who also played at the inaugural event in Vipingo two years ago, gets her campaign going at 11:57 am in the company of Heather Macrae from Scotland and Patricia Barrio from Spain.

The Magical Kenya Ladies Open defending Champion, Esther Henseleit from Germany, will start her title defence when she tees-off at 12:52 pm.