Rabat, Morocco, 12 June 2026: Indian star Gaganjeet Bhullar began the US$2 million International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco campaign strongly with a three-under-par 70 in the opening round at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat, Morocco.
Bhullar hit six birdies and three bogeys to finish on T19 in an eventful day. He put in a strong show on the front nine after opening with a steady string of four pars as he found his rhythm, picking up a shot on the fifth hole.
The 11-time winner on the Asian Tour followed that up with a spectacular hat-trick of birdies from holes seven through nine, making the turn at an explosive four-under-par 32. He continued his surge into the back nine, moving to five-under-par with another brilliant birdie on the 12th hole. While the challenging layout caught up with him via three bogeys on the 13th, 15th, and 17th holes, Bhullar demonstrated his trademark resilience by closing his round with a final birdie on the 18th to secure his 70.
“I was cruising today; I struck the ball so well. I actually thought I played really well, definitely better than three under par. I made six birdies and three bogeys, but they were like, I was right in the middle of the fairway; that’s where I made the bogeys. Overall, I’ve been riding high on confidence, and for the remaining days I’m just going to focus on what I did today,” commented Bhullar.
He added, “I’ll probably tighten up my focus coming down the last few holes. I thought maybe I wasn’t doing my routine properly, so that’s probably one area I’ll definitely look to tighten up. The conditions were also beautiful. We teed off in the afternoon; it was breezy, not windy, just a light breeze. Overall, I really enjoyed today.”
Bhullar sits three strokes behind the current clubhouse leader, Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert, who fired a bogey-free six-under 67 and ahead of fellow countrymen, including in-form rising star Karandeep Kochhar, who opened with a steady one-under-par, and seasoned icon Anirban Lahiri, who finished with a level-par on the opening round.
Meanwhile, Pavit shot a bogey-free eight-under par 65 to finish two ahead of Australian Travis Smyth, tied for second position alongside Younghan Song. Coincidentally, the Korean, who was bogey-free in his 67, was second in the International Series Japan last year, and is looking to win for the first time on the Asian Tour.
American Andy Ogletree, one of the most successful players in The International Series with three titles, signalled a return to form with a storming finish that included an eagle-birdie finish in his five-under 68.
He was joined on that score by the in-form Taichi Kho of Hong Kong, runner-up last week on the Japan Golf Tour, Thai Sadom Kaewkanjana, Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard and American Grant Haefner, who played with rented and borrowed clubs after his bag did not turn up at the airport.
Defending champion Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe made a determined start to his campaign with a three-under 70. Hugo Trommetter, a promising amateur, was the leading Moroccan player with a round of 73.
Among the various LIV Golf stars in the field, RangeGoats GC captain Bubba Watson shot a four-under 69, while Korea Golf Club’s Doyeob Mun was tied 18th with a 70.
International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco is the third leg of the elevated events on the Asian Tour and is being played in Morocco for the fourth time.
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