Aberdeen golfer David Law hopes the top of the Kenya Open leaderboard is not as densely populated as the centre of Nairobi as he starts his first full season on the Challenge Tour today.
The 22-year-old was taken aback by the hustle and bustle of the Kenyan capital after finishing tied for 22nd at the event last year. Law is aiming to move clear of the crowd at the Karen Country Club as he begins the second tier tour with a fully exempt card this year.
He said: “Nairobi is as busy a place as I have seen, it was really incredible. We stayed right in the centre of the city last year and maybe Delhi in India is the only other place comparable. I didn’t head out too much but the people I did meet were very friendly. Regardless of where you are you don’t really have the chance to go sightseeing.
“It is a great event on a fantastic course, the same one as last year.
“I started well before a poor finish with a 75 on the final day but the course suits me and I am comfortable going back there.”
Law warmed up for the Challenge Tour opener with two top-five finishes on the German Pro Golf Tour – tied for fifth at the Sueno Dunes Classic in Turkey in January and then tied for second at the Open Al Maaden in Morocco in February. Now the former Scottish men’s amateur champion is gearing up for the biggest test of his career. He said: “My results on the Pro Golf Tour have been good. I do wonder how much I am actually progressing and it was good to go out and get a couple of good finishes in the four events I played.
“It reassured me I was doing the right things. I have been lucky enough to play in 12 events over the last two years on the Challenge Tour and the standard is fantastic. If I play well I don’t think there will be a problem.
“It is the depth of competition and the amount of players that is the difference. There are so many players of a high standard as opposed to the Pro Golf Tour where there is not the same depth.
“I need to play well to make a cut, never mind a top-10 finish or a win.
“That said, I am not intimidated like I maybe was two years ago. I am pretty experienced now. Unless any player feels comfortable and confident they have no chance.”