Feel closer to the action on the DP World Tour by competing against golf fans from around the world in our official Fantasy game as the International Swing on the 2024 Race to Dubai continues with the Magical Kenya Open.
To play Fantasy DP World Tour, click here.
Following a one-week break, the DP World Tour returns to Africa for the first time this year as Muthaiga Golf Club plays host to the fifth edition of the Magical Kenya Open.
Rikuya Hoshino, who begins the week second on the Race to Dubai Rankings, missed the cut on his tournament debut last year but comes into the tournament full of confidence after claiming his first DP World Tour win in Qatar last time out.
While Jorge Campillo is not returning to defend his title this week, past champions Guido Migliozzi, Justin Harding and Ashun Wu are in action.
If you have not done so already, you can sign up to play the official 2024 DP World Tour Fantasy game and submit your six-man team before round one gets under way on Thursday: https://fantasy.dpworldtour.com/
The 2024 season-long winner will win a trip to the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai next year, enjoy a lesson with a DP World Tour professional and a round of golf on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates. For more information on this amazing prize and others, read here.
Fantasy Insight: As it stands, Rikuya Hoshino (a one to watch this week following his victory in Qatar) is the favourite for players of our Fantasy Game this week, featuring in 55% of teams. Other popular players include Ewen Ferguson (54%) and Thriston Lawrence (45%).
Alex Fitzpatrick, who has two top 20s so far this year, is the fourth most picked player, featuring in 36% of Fantasy teams.
Here, we pick out three players in action this week who are worth considering for your Fantasy team selections.
Favourite - Thriston Lawrence
While his form in recent weeks on the International Swing wasn't to the high standards we have come to expect in the past couple of years, the four-time DP World Tour winner boasts a strong record in the continent of Africa.
The South African won his inaugural DP World Tour title at the Joburg Open in 2021, before adding another at the Investec South African Open Championship a year later.
Lawrence began the season in impressive form, registering no worse than a tie for 11th in his homeland in his first three starts of the season as part of the Opening Swing.
As if evidence that he plays well at altitude wasn't enough, he also has a good record at this week's venue having finished in a tie for second in 2022.
Form Horse - Rikuya Hoshino
After back-to-back runner-up finishes at the start of the season on Australian soil, the Japanese entered the DP World Tour winner's circle with victory in Qatar.
That excellent performance came a week after finishing in a tie for 12th in Bahrain, and he has quickly climbed to sixth on the International Swing Rankings and second on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex.
Incentive won't be short in supply for the World Number 77 as he looks to eat into the lead held by Rory McIlroy at the top of the standings.
And as the 27-year-old closes in on a return to his career high on the Official World Golf Ranking of 63rd, his missed cut in this event last year are likely to be a mere distant memory.
Wild Card - Sebastian Garcia
Having regained his DP World Tour card for this season through Qualifying School, the Spaniard's form since the start of the International Swing has been encouraging.
He has not missed a cut in his last four starts, with his best finish coming earlier this month in Bahrain where he finished in a tie for 12th.
But it is perhaps his record in this event that is particularly eye-catching, with top-20 finishes in 2021 and 2022 across two different venues.
In fact, Garcia's record of playing in Kenya pre dates the inception of the Magical Kenya Open, having also recorded another top 20 in 2013 at nearby Karen Country Club.
Who have our commentary team picked?
- Dominik Holyer: Romain Langasque
- Tony Johnstone: Casey Jarvis
- Richard Boxall: Jamie Donaldson
- Iona Stephen: Ashun Wu
Looking back - Commercial Bank Qatar Masters
Prior to the one-week break in the International Swing, Rikuya Hoshino claimed his maiden DP World Tour title in Qatar.
The Japanese was selected in 16% of teams and claimed 204 points as he climbed into the top 10 performing players so far this season.
Ugo Coussaud was the hidden gem as, despite being picked by less than 2% of Fantasy users, the Frenchman played his way into the Team of the Week with a runner-up finish at Doha Golf Club.
Rasmus Højgaard, our Favourite in this feature last time out, continued his excellent form with a third consecutive top ten to solidify his status as the best performing Fantasy player on the Swing.
Season so far - 2024 DP World Tour Fantasy player rankings
| Player | Points |
|---|---|
| Zander Lombard | 935 |
| Sebastian Söderberg | 891 |
| Rasmus Højgaard | 848 |
| Richard Mansell | 842 |
| Rikuya Hoshino | 829 |
| Antoine Rozner | 794 |
| Tom McKibbin | 789 |
| Calum Hill | 783 |
| Conor Syme | 764 |
| Jayden Schaper | 732 |
