Jacques Kruyswijk reflects on a career-changing 12 months as he returns to defend his title at the Magical Kenya Open presented by absa.
The South African was already a prolific winner when he arrived in Kenya last February, with three Sunshine Tour wins and a victory on the HotelPlanner Tour sitting alongside multiple other professional triumphs in his homeland.
But success on the DP World Tour had so far proved elusive, with the two-time Qualifying School graduate having kept his card for just the second time in the 2024 season.
His win at Muthaiga Golf Club would change all that, however, as he then qualified for a maiden Major at the U.S. Open and comfortably made it to the season-ending DP World Tour Championship for the first time in his career.
He now arrives at Karen Country Club after a solid start to the 2026 Race to Dubai and despite the change of venue, is confident ahead of his defence.
“This is the first time I’m defending on the DP World Tour so it’s quite special,” he said.
“Kenya last year was a memorable time for me, it set up my career quite nicely going forward so being back in Kenya is always special.
“I’m looking forward to getting out there.”
Kruyswijk led by one heading into the final round in 2025 and had extended his advantage to two as he stood on the tee at the par-three 16th.
A beautiful tee-shot left him a 15-foot left-to-righter for birdie and the fist-pumping celebration that came as the ball hit the bottom of the cup showed just what the shot, and impending victory, meant.
“The wins that I’ve had in South Africa were in the leading position so I kind of know what to do in that situation,” he said. “I feel very comfortable in that position but if you were giving me an option before going into the final round I would have loved chasing by one or two, I love chasing, I’m a chasing player.
“But either/or, it was awesome to get over the line last year and it set up what’s going forward.
“The shot I hit into 16, the five iron there just right behind the hole and the putt that I made there, it got me three clear going into the final two holes and that’s the one thing that I look back on watching the videos, it was an awesome golf shot and an awesome putt to finish it off.”
While Karen presents a different challenge to Muthaiga this week, Kruyswijk has fond memories from 2021 when he secured back-to-back top fives at this event and the Kenya Savannah Classic supported by absa.
“I’ve played here in 2021 when they had the back-to-back events so I’m not unfamiliar with the golf course so I’m kind of excited to get out there,” he said. “I look forward to seeing the course and feeling the greens a little bit.
“Kenya’s elevation is playing exactly the same as we played it last year so I know exactly how far the ball is travelling, it’s exactly the same as Johannesburg and Pretoria so I’m very familiar with it. I think Karen is going to set up for a great tournament this week.”
