By Martin Kaddu
The Deputy speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa has lauded Uganda’s professional golfer Ronald Rugumayo for becoming the first player from Uganda to make the cut on DP World Tour. Tayebwa, a golfer himself, is happy that golf is taking root in Uganda.
Rugumayo holed a birdie putt on the final hole to make the cut at the Magical Kenya Open three days ago as the second round at Muthaiga golf club drew towards a close.
Rugumayo may be 2,901st in the Official World Golf Ranking but the 31-year old Ugandan created some fantastic theater to the delight of fans surrounding the 18th green.
Courtesy of a birdie at the 18th hole, Rugumayo historically became the first Ugandan to make the cut on DP World tour.
For Uganda, a country with fewer than 20 golf courses and without representation on any of golf’s major tours, Tayebwa believes that Rugumayo’s success not only opens Uganda to the world but also starts a serious conversation on government support for golf.
“I feel happy for him and congratulate him for having become not only the first Ugandan, but East African to make the cut –comoleting with elite European players,” noted Tayebwa while presiding over the Martyrs Day fundraising golf tournament organized by the Archdiocese of Mbarara Association to raise funding for this year’s Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations at Uganda golf club-Kitante on Saturday.
“I think the government can come in and increase more funding to the sport because golf brings quality people on board. If you see the people on course, we can use golf to attract tourists with bigger purchasing power and potential huge investors,” he added.
The putt that was far from easy, measuring around 10 feet and the right-to-left break required careful judgment down the slope, Rugumayo’s milestone makes it the best feel-good moment over the course of this year in golf.
Regardless of finishing 71st at the Magical Kenya Open that climaxed on Sunday, the ABSA bank sponsored Rugumayo’s truly magical moment will be remembered.
