Andy DevaneyBubba Watson will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the International Series Morocco, though not before giving the leaderboard a late rattle and the rest of the field a polite invitation to keep believing.
The 47-year-old American, a two-time Masters champion and skipper of RangeGoats GC on LIV Golf, signed for a four-under-par 69 on the par-73 Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. It was enough to move him clear at the top of the US$2 million International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco, but only just.
For 13 holes, Watson appeared to have the thing under sensible supervision. Five birdies, 15 greens in regulation, and just enough left-handed wizardry to make a demanding Moroccan layout look slightly less demanding than it had any right to be.
Then came the little reminder golf likes to issue when a player starts looking comfortable. Bogeys at the 14th and 15th shaved away the cushion, before Watson steadied himself with a birdie at the drivable par-four 17th.
A one-shot lead, in other words. Useful. Fragile. Deliciously inconvenient.
Watson Leads, But The Door Is Not Locked
Watson’s last victory came at the 2018 Travelers Championship on the PGA Tour, which adds a little extra voltage to Sunday’s final round in Rabat. He is not short of pedigree, obviously. Green jackets tend to settle that argument rather briskly. But winning again, after six years without a trophy, would carry its own particular weight.
He did not dominate the Red Course from tee to fairway, hitting eight of 15 fairways, but his iron play did most of the heavy lifting. Finding 15 greens in regulation on a course asking persistent questions is not a bad day’s work. It is the golfing equivalent of missing your driveway but still parking neatly in the garage.
“It was a long day out there today. The round seemed to take forever, which made it difficult to get into a rhythm at times. I only made one bad mistake with a three-putt on the 15th hole. Other than that, it was a great day,” said Watson, who was cheered by his family during the round.
That family presence brought the round its softer edge. Professional golfers spend their lives negotiating pressure, expectation and tiny margins, while children retain the useful ability to be magnificently unimpressed by all of it.
“My daughter couldn’t care less what I’m shooting, and that’s pretty awesome. It’s great to have her out here. Normally she’s not old enough to walk all the holes, so it’s nice to see her out supporting me. She loves me no matter what I shoot, and that’s always a great feeling.”
The 10th Hole Delivers A Peculiar Little Gift
The birdie Watson enjoyed most came at the 10th, where Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert had moments earlier damaged the hole by slam-dunking his second shot for eagle.
Golf, never knowingly normal, then produced a moment of mild chaos and perfect comic timing. Watson had a 12-footer, the cup had taken some punishment, and the rules official had done what could be done.
“The hole (on the 10th) had taken a bit of damage, and the rules official tried to repair it, but there was still a lot of loose dirt around the edge. My ball ended up falling in because of that, so I’ll take it.”
There are players who spend years waiting for a break. Watson got one from a traumatised cup. No need to apologise. The scorecard is not known for moral philosophy.
Jazz Janewattananond Comes Charging Late
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, the 2022 champion, sits one shot behind after a five-under 67. His finish was the sort that tends to sharpen everyone’s attention in the scoring hut: birdie at 17, eagle at 18, and a leaderboard suddenly looking less like Watson’s private property.
That was some response, particularly after Jazz made a double-bogey five on the ninth. Lesser rounds would have sagged there. His, instead, put on a clean shirt and went out dancing.
“I’m just hoping I can bring the same level of ball-striking, putting and overall play from the last two days into the final round. If I can do that, I think I will give myself a really good chance going into the last round tomorrow and making a strong push,” said Jazz, who made a double-bogey five on the ninth hole before the grandstand finish of birdie-eagle.
The 17th at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam has been a recurring temptation all week. Drivable, dangerous and not particularly interested in half-hearted decision-making, it asks players whether they fancy being brave or merely decorative.
“The 17th is really a drivable hole, so you almost feel like you need to make birdie there to keep pace. I did my job on that hole. I didn’t hit a particularly good chip, but I made a good putt to save the birdie.
“On the 18th, I hit a great drive. The second shot was a little risky, but it suited the shot shape I like to see. We decided to go for it and we pulled it off. It turned out to be a very rewarding decision.”
Taichi Kho Keeps Surfing The Momentum
Alongside Jazz at 13-under is Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, who shot 68 with six birdies and one bogey. He arrived in Rabat after finishing runner-up on the Japan Golf Tour last week, which is either excellent form or a scheduling decision made by someone with a grudge against sleep.
Kho’s round had texture. He started uncertainly, found rhythm, and then nearly came unstuck at the 17th after putting his tee shot into the water with a new mini-driver. He still escaped with par, which in tournament golf counts as both a score and a small act of fraud.
“It was really good. I started a bit shaky and didn’t feel quite comfortable. However, I think something I’ve learned this year is that I can still play freely and play well despite feeling uncomfortable. So, felt like I rode that momentum well and found the rhythm of the round really well, and towards the end, I felt like I was kind of on a wave, just kept surfing,” said the decorated Hong Kong star, who made a par on the 17th hole despite hitting his tee shot with a new mini-driver into the water.
Kho has been one of the more intriguing players in the field because his current run suggests not merely form, but a growing understanding of how to survive imperfect golf. That is often the difference between a promising player and a dangerous one.
“I feel like we work the hardest when we are struggling. I think it’s been good for me to kind of take ownership of my game and understand the areas to work on and areas to continue to improve. I have been working on the right things, and seeing good results feels like a bonus.”
Konishi Adds A Japanese Threat To The Chase
Japan’s Takanori Konishi produced the cleanest card among the main contenders, a bogey-free 66 that moved him to 12-under alongside Pavit Tangkamolprasert, who shot 72.
Konishi missed just one green in regulation, which is the sort of statistic that makes coaches purr and opponents stare into the middle distance. He is chasing a first win outside Japan, and doing it in his first tournament on the African continent.
“My shots today were good and I putted really well. The greens are rolling pure,” said Konishi, winner of the Maezawa Cup on Japan Golf Tour last year in April.
“This is the first year that I’ve played outside Japan, so I would be happy if I win tomorrow. If I get a chance, I want to play more tournaments overseas.”
Behind him, Julien Sale of France and Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai are tied sixth at 11-under, close enough to be irritating if the leaders blink.
Home Interest Continues Through Mehdi El Fakori
Mehdi El Fakori remains the home story after becoming the only Moroccan player to make the cut. A second successive three-under-par 70 lifted him to tied 33rd on five-under.
For the galleries at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, that matters. Local representation gives any international event a pulse beyond the leaderboard. Morocco has hosted this tournament four times now, and the combination of a demanding Red Course, a global field and a home player still moving forward gives the week more than just scenery.
A Final Round Built For Mischief
The International Series Morocco is the third leg of the elevated events on the Asian Tour, and Sunday now has the shape every tournament wants: a major champion in front, former winner Jazz Janewattananond one back, an in-form Taichi Kho alongside him, and Konishi lurking with the clean ball-striking of a man who has no interest in sightseeing.
Watson has the lead. He also has the history, the imagination and the scars. But the Red Course has already shown a fondness for asking awkward questions late in the day.
One shot is a lead. It is also barely enough room to change your socks.
