Magical Kenya Open - Day one digest

Everything you need to know from day one in Nairobi.

Darius van Driel led the way, local stars put on a show, eagles were everywhere and putters were optional in round one of the Magical Kenya Open presented by absa.

Here is everything you need to know from Thursday at Muthaiga Golf Club.

Van Driel hits the front

Darius van Driel continued his fine start to the 2024 Race to Dubai with an opening 66 to take the first-round lead. The Dutchman has two top tens so far this campaign and while he missed his first cut of the season last time out, a return to Muthaiga Golf Club - where he has two previous top-12 finishes, including last year - saw him regain his recent form. An eagle, five birdes and two bogeys moved him to five under, a shot clear of countryman Daan Huizing, Frenchman Frederic Lacroix, Finn Tapio Pulkkanen, German Yannick Schuetz, Scot Connor Syme and South African Ryan van Velzen. "It was pretty solid," said Van Driel. "Hit a lot of fairways, which you need to do here or you make it very hard for yourself. I holed some nice putts, it went exactly how I wanted to play, so I’m happy."

Doing the double

Both Lacroix and Jesper Svensson were experiencing déjà vu in spectacular fashion on day one. The Frenchman started his round with a driver and a nine iron to set up an eagle on the tenth and then hit the same combination to record another on the 18th. Svensson meanwhile was level par after 13 holes but chipped in on the 14th and last to move up the leaderboard. "It seemed to work out for me to miss the greens today," said the Swede.

Oh brother

The Kibugu brothers always take good crowds with them on home soil and Thursday was no different as first Njoroge...........

And then Mutahi delighted the gathered locals.

But Mutahi was not finished.

A remarkable record

Dismas Indiza is playing in his 25th Magical Kenya Open this week, 35 years after his first, and the 55-year-old fired a three over par 74.

No putter required

Marcus Armitage was putting on a show.