Njoroge Kibugu Breaks Silence After Making Magical Kenya Open Cut as Sole Kenyan: 'I'm Putting It in a Museum'

Rising golf star Njoroge Kibugu has explained on the significance of Kenyan fans after becoming the sole local player to make the cut at the Magical Kenya Open 2026.

Playing at the par-70 Karen Country Club in Nairobi, Kibugu delivered a stellar opening round on Thursday, shooting a four-under-par 66 that put him in a strong position heading into the second day.

The 22-year-old needed to carry that form into Friday's round, which turned into a dramatic and emotional affair. A birdie on the seventh hole moved him to five-under, seemingly securing his place for the weekend.

However, bogeys on the 12th and 14th holes created a tense finish, dropping him to one shot outside the projected cut line of four-under. The pressure was palpable, not just for Njoroge Kibugu but also for the large home crowd that had gathered to cheer him on.

After steady two-putts on the 16th and 17th, his fate came down to the final hole. Needing a birdie on the par-five 18th, Kibugu delivered in spectacular fashion.

A powerful drive set up a magnificent approach shot that landed just four feet from the pin. He calmly sank the putt for an eagle, sealing his spot for the weekend and sparking wild celebrations among the spectators.

Njoroge Kibugu's achievement ended a two-year wait for a Kenyan to advance to the money rounds, a feat last accomplished by his brother, Mutahi Kibugu, in 2023.

Njoroge Kibugu admitted that he was still coming to terms with the moment but admitted he was overwhelmed with joy after making the cut as the only Kenyan at the Magical Kenya Open.

He explained that finishing strongly, particularly with two excellent closing shots, gave him a huge confidence boost, and he was especially relieved to convert the short putt that sealed his place for the weekend rounds.

He added that advancing further in the tournament meant a great deal to him and described the experience as truly special.

Njoroge Kibugu noted that as the galleries grew larger, he felt a surge of motivation, recognising that the occasion carried significance not just for himself but also for many supporters backing him.

Heading into the final hole, he was fully aware of the responsibility on his shoulders and drew strength from the presence of the crowd, which he said lifted his focus and determination during the crucial second shot.

“I haven't processed it yet, but I feel a bit ecstatic, you know, especially with the card on the last two great shots in there. And, you know, a four-footer, just happy I sunk it. And I'm just happy to be playing the weekend,” Njoroge Kibugu said.

“It feels amazing, to be honest. You know, as I saw the crowds get bigger, my energy started pumping because I was like, okay, this is bigger than me.

“There are a lot of people who are riding on me. So going into the last, I knew it was more than me. So it was nice having the crowds there. We're going to talk through this last hole, this second shot.”

Njoroge Kibugu explained that he struck a powerful tee shot that left him with 226 yards to the pin, noting that although the wind was manageable, the rush of adrenaline was intense.

He revealed that he had initially considered using a five iron, but after his caddie reminded him to account for the extra surge of energy and aim safely toward the middle of the green, he adjusted his plan.

The shot came off strongly, just as intended, and he said he committed fully to the strike, satisfied that he had given it everything in that defining moment.

Reflecting on the putt that followed, Njoroge Kibugu joked that the ball deserved a place in a museum because of its significance.

He admitted that reading the greens had been a challenge throughout the day, so he sought guidance from his caddie on the line before stepping up. Once he had the direction, he chose not to overanalyse the attempt, trusting his instinct and executing the stroke with confidence.

“Yeah, I mean, I hit a great drive down there. I had 226 yards in. There was not too much wind, but there was adrenaline pumping. I wanted to hit a five before when my caddy told me, ‘You know, there's adrenaline,” he said.

“Just hit it to the centre of the green.’ It came out hot, which I'm happy. I gave it everything I had. And yeah, the rest is history. I'm putting it in a museum or something. It was... I just need to get the line. I didn't have those the whole day. I asked my caddie, where is this? And he told me it was left in. Yeah, I just hit the putt. I didn't think too much.”

Meanwhile, at the top of the leaderboard, Frederic Lacroix shot a second-round 62 to share the halfway lead with Casey Jarvis at 13-under-par. The pair hold a two-shot advantage over a group that includes South Africa's Hennie Du Plessis, who carded a remarkable 61.