Ronald Rugumayo is proud to continue flying the flag for Uganda on golf’s global stage as he makes his first DP World Tour appearance outside of Africa at the European Open.
🌍 His first time out of Africa
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 28, 2024
⛳️ Back on tour after making the cut in Kenya
🇺🇬 Looking to make Uganda proud
History maker Ronald Rugumayo is playing this week at the European Open 🤩#EO2024 pic.twitter.com/K9RkwPfW5w
The 31-year-old made headlines at the Magical Kenya Open earlier this season by becoming the first player from Uganda to make the cut at a DP World Tour event.
Rugumayo has since played three events on the Sunshine Tour but now makes the journey over to Europe to test his game in new surroundings at Green Eagle Golf Courses in Germany as a tournament invite.
“It’s a major highlight not only for me but for all the golfing fraternity in Uganda," he told the DP World Tour.
Rugumayo is no stranger to making history, having become the first Ugandan to make a hole-in-one on the DP World Tour in last year’s Magical Kenya Open at Muthaiga Golf Club.
After first picking up a golf ball at the age of six, he gave up on soccer as a teenager after seeing his older brother, also a keen golfer, win a tournament and is now using his profile to inspire others across East Africa.
This week sees Rugumayo, 2,516th in the Official World Golf Ranking, join a host of household international figures, including 2016 Masters Champion Danny Willett.
And he has already spent time trying to learn a few pieces of advice from the English eight-time DP World Tour winner on the practice range.
“A couple of seconds ago I was watching Danny Willett chipping a few balls,” he added.
“I am so grateful for being here this week and competing against the best golfers in the world.”
Rugumayo will play alongside Qualifying School graduate Joe Dean, who finished in a tie for fifth last week at the Soudal Open, and Spain’s Sebastian Garcia over the opening two rounds.
