Golf: Rugumayo targets history at Magical Open 

Ronald Rugumayo is presently rated the best professional golfer in Uganda today. But now, the Tooro-born golfer wants to leave a huge impression on the Magical Kenya Open at his second attempt having made his debut at Muthaiga last year.

Rugumayo is just one of two non-Kenyans – the other is Visitor Mapwanya from Zimbabwe – who will be competing at the lucrative golf tournament whose 56th edition tees off next month at the par-71 Muthaiga Golf Club.

Last year’s tournament attracted revered names like Justin Harding, Thomas Detry and Adri Arnaus and an equally formidable field is expected this year. They will all be fighting for a purse of Shs 7 billion (€1.75m). Rugumayo did not make the cut last year despite a promising start, but he expects to do better this time round.

“Last year was a learning experience for me,” Rugumayo told The Observer on Monday. “I believe that I am better equipped, both mentally and physically, with the demands.

“The course is not going to change, the greens will not change, the bunkers will not change and the tee-boxes will not change.”

He is perfectly aware of the adjustment to be made to put him in better shape.

“I will change on how I prepared myself last year. I am playing way better than how I was playing last year.
“But I have been in Kenya for a month and I will do more practice rounds despite knowing my way round the course.”

Rugumayo has been in the country for a week but returns to Nairobi tomorrow to intensify his readiness for the tournament,

“Two weeks before the Open, they take over the course and they start changing it. I came here purposely to check on the sponsorship with Absa (for the Open) and the talks have gone on smoothly,” he said.

The conditions at Muthaiga have been dry and humid and Rugumayo has tuned his game to suit the prevalent weather in Nairobi.

“I am calm and looking forward to the tournament because I have been there and have a fair picture of what to expect; last year was different because everything was happening to me for the first time.”