Bubba Watson Showcases Masterful Play in Morocco
In a thrilling turn of events at the International Series Morocco, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson has captivated golf fans by tying for the lead after an impressive second round. Competing on the stunning Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, Watson demonstrated his exceptional skills and strategic acumen, finishing the day with a remarkable seven-under-par 66, which marked the lowest round of the day. This stellar performance allowed him to match Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert, both players now standing at a combined score of 11-under 135 at the halfway point of the US$2 million tournament.
Watson, who serves as the captain of RangeGoats Golf Club, exhibited a blend of precision shot-making and effective putting throughout the day. He successfully hit 15 of the 18 fairways and managed to sink eight birdies, with only one bogey marring his otherwise flawless round. Following closely behind is Younghan Song from Korea, who sits at ten-under par after a solid 69 on the day.
The leaderboard is shaping up to be quite competitive in the heart of Morocco, where Australian golfer Travis Smyth, the reigning champion of the International Series Japan and current leader of the Asian Tour Order of Merit, is tied for fourth at nine-under par. He shares this position with defending champion Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe and the talented Taichi Kho of Hong Kong, both of whom have shown consistent performance in the tournament.
Watson, who last celebrated victory on the PGA Tour at the Travelers Championship in June 2018, has recently been showing signs of his former glory. Reflecting on his round, he shared, "Today was good. I made a few putts and just kept the round going. Waking up early, you never really know how your body will feel, but I got into the right positions physically and gave myself chances.” With only 26 putts taken during his round, it was evident that his putting game was particularly sharp. He added, “You have to be a strong ball striker. You can’t fake it around here. But on this golf course, the greens and the green complexes are the biggest challenge. They’re really good, but they’re also very difficult. Around here, the putter is key.”
Pavit Tangkamolprasert had a rocky start, facing two bogeys within his first eight holes. However, he rallied to finish strong, mirroring his performance from the opening round by making birdies on the final two holes to achieve a three-under-par 70. His excitement about sharing the weekend with Watson was palpable, reminiscing about how he had watched Watson play at the 2012 Thai Golf Championship. "I have some pictures of Bubba from back then when I saw him playing at Amata Spring when I was young. I like Bubba, I like how he drives the ball. He could really curve the ball," he noted enthusiastically.
Mehdi El Fakori stands as the only Moroccan player to make the cut with rounds of 74 and 70, highlighting the local talent present at this prestigious event. The International Series Morocco, presented by Visit Morocco, marks the third leg of the elevated events on the Asian Tour, further establishing Morocco as a key location in the world of golf.
As reported by livgolf.com.
