Gaganjeet Bhullar Opens Strong Round In Morocco International Series Debut

India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar made a solid start at the US$2 million International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco. Bhullar signed for a three-under-par 70 in the opening round. The score placed Bhullar in a tie for 19th at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.

Bhullar’s card included six birdies and three bogeys on a demanding course. Bhullar began with four straight pars before a birdie at the fifth. A run of birdies at the seventh, eighth and ninth followed. Bhullar turned in four-under-par 32 after that burst.

Bhullar added another birdie at the 12th to reach five-under-par. The momentum then slowed with bogeys at the 13th, 15th and 17th holes. Bhullar recovered late with a closing birdie on the 18th. That finish secured the opening 70 despite the late slips.

"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.

"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 alsobeautiful. We teed off in the afternoon; it was breezy, not windy, just a light breeze. Overall, I really enjoyed today."

Bhullar finished three shots behind clubhouse leader Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand. Pavit earlier posted a bogey-free six-under 67. Another update listed Pavit with a bogey-free eight-under-par 65. That score left Pavit two ahead of Travis Smyth and Younghan Song.

Song also stayed bogey-free in a 67 and sat alongside Smyth in second. Song was second at International Series Japan last year. Song was chasing a first win on the Asian Tour. Among other Indians, Karandeep Kochhar opened with one-under-par, while Anirban Lahiri returned level-par.

International Series Morocco: Chasers, LIV Golf names, and local interest

American Andy Ogletree closed strongly for a five-under 68, ending eagle-birdie. Taichi Kho of Hong Kong matched that 68 after a Japan Golf Tour runner-up finish. Sadom Kaewkanjana, Lucas Bjerregaard and Grant Haefner also shot 68. Haefner used rented and borrowed clubs after missing baggage.

Defending champion Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe began with a three-under 70. Moroccan amateur Hugo Trommetter led the home players with a 73. Bubba Watson shot four-under 69 among LIV Golf players. Doyeob Mun was tied 18th with a 70. The event marked the third elevated Asian Tour leg, and Morocco hosted it for the fourth time.