Richard T. Lee in class of his own at International Series Morocco
Canadian Richard T. Lee fired a classy eight-under-par 65 to take the halfway lead in the International Series Morocco today at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.
The famous venue’s Red Course once again provided a stern test, but Lee impressively rose to the challenge making an eagle and six birdies to move to nine under par for the US$1.5 million event. He was one of only five players to break 70.
Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong returned a 72 and is in second place two back, while Australian Scott Hend and Spaniard David Puig are a stroke further behind after carding 69 and 70 respectively.
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond (70) and Rattanon Wannasrichan (71), Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent (71) and Englishman Steve Lewton (73) are another stroke adrift.
Lee eagled the par-five fifth, made three birdies in a row from the 10th, birdied 18 and missed numerous chances, including nearly holing out for an eagle on the sixth, to go even lower.
Nitithorn Thippong. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“I think definitely the fifth hole when I made the eagle that kind of made me pumped up a little bit,” said Lee.
“You just need to hit the fairways out there and that’s key on this course. I didn’t really like hit my drivers high, I tried to hit my low Stinger drivers just to make the fairways and from there it’s easy.”
He spent four days in Dubai before this week to acclimatize and adjust to the time zone and it has clearly paid dividends.
He said: “Oh, definitely. I mean, I know a few people that just came in from Korea and from the US as well, and definitely the jetlag is hitting them pretty hard. Yeah, I went to Dubai for three, four days, just practiced with a few friends of mine at the Emirates Club and the Els Club. Yeah, it was good practice.”
The 32 year old is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour but has not tasted victory since claiming the Shinhan Donghae Open in 2017. But the signs have been there this year that his A game is coming back, particularly when he finished joint second in the International Series Singapore in August.
Nitithorn, whose nickname is “Fever”, has already won twice this year and is clearly hot for more success although he wasn’t satisfied with his performance today.
“I had a frustrating day,” he said, who started the day in a share of the lead with American Cole Madey.
“I started not so good with a bogey on the eighth, my first hole. I don’t know, I didn’t play so good today but made a lot of up and downs. But I missed a lot of birdie opportunities also.
“I’m still happy with the result today, I mean I was really focused on my game.”
The 26 year old won The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in March for his maiden success on the Asian Tour and in August triumphed in the International Series Singapore. He sits in third position on the Tour’s Order of Merit.
Scott Hend. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Like all the competitors this week he is treating the Red Course with a lot of respect.
He said: “Oh, for me it’s a little tough. It’s got a lot of bunkers on the side of the fairway, and you have to drive it really straight in the fairway. You’ve got to keep the ball in the fairway to make the next shot easy, because the rough is really thick and it’s like a sponge. I don’t really know how to hit it from the rough.”
He made three birdies and two bogeys to help put him in strong position heading into the weekend.
Vincent is first on the International Series Order of Merit and fifth on the Merit list, having won the International Series England in June, and will no doubt be a threat at the weekend.
“It has been a good two days, I did a lot of things very well,” he said.
“Just trying to stay present and engage each and every shot. I had a really good group to play with today. Kiradech (Aphibarnrat) is someone I have looked up to for a very long time. That was a lot of fun and we really enjoyed ourselves out there.
“Weekend approach is the same, same approach, same as what we have been doing, I am just out here each week to get a little bit better. Learn and grow is what we call it. That’s the goal.”
Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong showed today he has no intention of taking his foot off the gas after a breakthrough season, which has seen him win two titles, after he took the clubhouse lead halfway through day two of the International Series Morocco.
He carded a second round one-under-par 72 at the majestic Royal Golf Dar Es Salam to reach seven under par for the US$1.5 million event, which is two better than Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent (71), Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan (71) and Englishman Steve Lewton (73)
Nitithorn, whose nickname is “Fever”, is clearly hot for more success and was able to move into pole position today despite a less than satisfactory performance.
“I had a frustrating today,” he said, who started the day in a share of the lead with Lewton.
“I started not so good with a bogey on the eighth, my first hole. I don’t know, I didn’t play so good today but made a lot of up and downs. But I missed a lot of birdie opportunities also.
“I’m still happy with the result today, I mean I was really focused on my game.”
The 26 year old won The DGC Open presented by Mastercard in March for his maiden success on the Asian Tour and in August triumphed in the International Series Singapore. He sits in third position on the Tour’s Order of Merit.
Playing partners Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand and Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe walk down the 12th fairway on Friday, November 4, 2022 during Round Two of the International Series Morocco at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. The US$ 1.5 million Asian Tour event is staged from November 3-6, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Like all the competitors this week he is treating the Red Course here at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam with a lot of respect.
He said: “Oh, for me it’s a little tough. It’s got a lot of bunkers on the side of the fairway, and you have to drive it really straight in the fairway. You’ve got to keep the ball in the fairway to make the next shot easy, because the rough is really thick and it’s like a sponge. I don’t really know how to hit it from the rough.”
He made three birdies and two bogeys to help put him in perfect position heading into the weekend.
Vincent is first on the International Series Order of Merit and fifth on the Merit list, having won the International Series England in June, made three birdies and two bogeys on both nines.
“It has been a good two days, I did a lot of things very well,” he said.
“Just trying to stay present and engage each and every shot. I had a really good group to play with today. Kiradech (Aphibarnrat) is someone I have looked up to for a very long time. That was a lot of fun and we really enjoyed ourselves out there.
“Weekend approach is the same, same approach, same as what we have been doing, I am just out here each week to get a little bit better. Learn and grow is what we call it. That’s the goal.”
American Chase Koepka, brother of four-time Major winner Brooks, returned a 71 and is a stroke further back, with countryman Erik Compton (70) and Australian Todd Sinnott (72).
Scott Vincent of Zimbabawe pictured on Friday, November 4, 2022 during Round Two of the International Series Morocco at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. The US$ 1.5 million Asian Tour event is staged from November 3-6, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Not much is known about American Cole Madey on the Asian Tour – this week’s inaugural US$1.5 million International Series Morocco is only his third event on Tour – but based on today’s opening round of six-under-par 67, which gave him a share of the clubhouse lead with Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong, it looks like he could be a player to look out for in the future.
An eagle and four birdies put Madey in control at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam with Nitithorn, ahead of Englishman Steve Lewton who carded a 68 – helped by a brilliant eagle on the par-four 13th where he holed a 127-yard wedge shot from a fairway bunker.
Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut, American Trevor Simsby and Danny Masrin from Indonesia, shot 69s while Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Zimbabwean Scott Vincent, and Spanish rookie David Puig were in a group of nine players in with 70s.
Eleven players will complete their first-round tomorrow morning as fading evening light stopped play for the day.
Madey is 25 years old and after graduating from UCLA he turned professional in 2019 with high hopes of travelling the globe and playing golf but the COVID-19 pandemic immediately scuppered those plans.
Nitithorn Thippong. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
However, he was able to get back on track last year and play the PGA Tour Latin America before also getting a couple of starts on the Asian Tour in March this year in Thailand.
“With things shut down for a couple of years I didn’t really get my feet wet in professional golf,” said the American.
“But now I am starting to travel and play pro golf, learning how to manage my time and so on. I have been learning a lot and the events I played on the Asian Tour in Thailand were great and now I am here, I love to travel, and the Asian Tour is an incredible organization.”
A six under round with no dropped shots is an impressive performance on the testing Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. Madey felt he was helped by the fact that the course reminds him of a favourite layout in the US.
He said: “I love the course, it reminds me of a course I played in the States, called Saticoy Golf Club, where the greens are extremely undulating, and unforgiving on some approach shots meaning the ball can spin off the green. I really like it, I am from the North-West where there are also a lot of trees, it suits my eye.”
He made his first birdie on seven, eagled the par-five eighth, and birdied 13 before closing with birdies on 17 and 18.
“I putted pretty solid,” he said.
“My driver was a little shaky in the beginning. I made all my four footers which was important. There are some huge slopes so it’s important not to try and leave yourself too much work with 30 or 40 footers.”
Steve Lewton. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Nitithorn has been victorious twice this season – in The DGC Open presented by Mastercard and the International Series Singapore – and joined Madey on top of the leaderboard late in the day with an eagle on the driveable par-four 17th and a birdie on the par-five 18th.
“I feel good. I didn’t know my score until I made eagle on 17, when I then realised I was five under,” said the Thai golfer, who made six birdies in total and two bogeys.
“I was really in the zone today so wasn’t keeping track. I drove the ball so well and that’s key for me around this course. I played good golf today.”
On the penultimate hole he hit a miraculous tee shot to two feet to set up the eagle.
Lewton last played Royal Golf Dar Es Salam 13 years ago, when he says it was a very different layout.
“It’s changed a lot. I don’t remember the greens being this slopy. They have made some changes, which have been brilliant,” he said.
“It is a tricky golf course this week, rough is kind of up, it is playing kind of long and the greens are tricky. You have got to control your golf ball. I didn’t have a great lie in the bunker on 13, I was trying to hit it as good as I could, and it came out well and I thought it would be close but with a bit of luck it went in.”
Puig’s good start caught the attention of many as this is only his second event as a professional having joined the play for pay game in September.
“I didn’t play a tournament since September, which was the LIV Golf event in Chicago, so it’s been a month and a half of complete grind on the driving range,” said the 20 year old former amateur star at Arizona State University.
“I played pretty good. I think I am swinging the club better. I worked pretty hard, you know I usually struggle a little off the tee, but I hit it pretty good off the tee which helped, so I am pretty happy with the round overall.”
Puig played the back nine first and struggled with his game making the turn in one over but was a different player on his second nine carding birdies on one, three, five and eight shooting a four-under-par 32.
David Puig. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
He has spent his time off in the States working with golf coach Dave Philips and Sean Drake, an athlete chiropractor.
He added: “I think we did a really good job the last month and a half. I am excited to keep going this week and next week. They (Philips and Drake) are both very good, they know each other, they are connected, so what I needed to improve on the course I practiced it with the chiropractor, with helped with technique and everything.”
Morocco’s first ever Tour-level golf champion Ines Laklalech believes this week’s International Series event in Rabat will be the launchpad for the country’s next generation of golf stars.
No less than 10 of Morocco’s finest professional and amateur golfers have earned the chance to tee it up against some of the biggest names in world golf at the Asian Tour’s flagship $1.5 million International Series Morocco tournament, which teed off this morning (Thursday) at the historic Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.
Professionals Ayoub Lguirati, Yassine Touhami, Othmane Raouzi, Ayoub Id-Omar, Ahmed Marjan and Karim El Hali carry Morocco’s greatest chance of a strong performance at the four-day event, with highly rated amateurs El Mehdi Fakori, Hugo Mazen Trommetter, Mohammed Nizar Bourehim and Adam Bresnu also looking to make an impression.
All 10 players will be able to source inspiration from 25-year-old countrywoman Laklalech, who earlier this year became Morocco’s first ever golfer to win a professional title, with victory in September’s Lacoste Ladies Open De France on the Ladies European Tour.
Laklalech firmly believes the talent is there amongst Morocco’s rising male stars – and is hoping that this week’s event will act as a springboard for Moroccan golf looking forward.
She said: “I’ve been following the guys’ results for the last couple of years and when there’s a national event, I’m always watching. It would be amazing if a Moroccan player can win this tournament – and I’m sure they can, because we have incredible talents here in Morocco. They’re working hard and they have really nice courses here. I just think they’re maybe lacking a bit of experience, and that’s all they’re missing. If they just keep playing, they will have some great results in the future, that’s for sure. And if not in this tournament, then it will come. I’m very optimistic for the future of Moroccan golf.”
Ines Laklalech with the Lacoste Ladies Open De France trophy.
The debut International Series Morocco will play a key role in determining the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, as well as the maiden International Series money list winner.
Its field is packed with big-name stars, with eight of the top-10 in the Asian Tour Order of Merit standings, plus all four International Series winners to date – American Sihwan Kim (International Series Thailand), Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent (England), Thai Ntithorn Thippong (Singapore) and Korean Taehoon Ok (Korea) – all playing.
They will go head-to-head with the likes of Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, former Singapore Open champion Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, and Australian Brett Rumford, a two-time Asian Tour winner, while James Piot, Chase Koepka, Wade Ormsby, Turk Pettit and David Puig are some of the big-name LIV Golf stars competing.
Laklalech is delighted to see this level of competition return to her home country.
She said: “When I got the news the International Series was coming to Morocco, I was very happy because the DP World Tour event has been set aside for a few years, and this would mean a big tournament coming to Morocco again, which is great.
“We have a lot of great players and I’m really happy for them, being able to play in an event like this. It’s also going to allow the young kids from all over Morocco to come and watch the guys play up close, and that will be a great inspiration for so many of them. That’s how it worked for me: I got inspired when I was watching the Lalla Meryem Cup in Rabat, so now having an Asian Tour event in Morocco is for sure going to grow Moroccan golf.”
Asked about the challenge the players can expect to encounter on Royal Golf Dar Es Salam’s Rouge course, Laklalech said: “It is a very, very nice course, but very tricky. I think the biggest challenge for the guys this weekend is going to be getting the right tee shot, because it’s pretty narrow with a few obstacles, and when you get the ball in the rough, it’s tough to get near to the hole.
“The greens are also pretty firm and fast, so I think the main thing would be to just put your ball on the fairway to have a good chance and create your opportunities.”
The International Series Morocco teed-off at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam this morning and continues each day through Sunday. Admission is free for all those keen to attend.
Moroccan star Ayoub Lguirati is “honoured” to be among the 10 local players representing their home country and gaining invaluable experience alongside the best in the game as they battle it out for glory at the International Series Morocco on the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam course in Rabat this week.
Ayoub joins fellow professionals Karim El Hal, Yassine Touhami, Othman Raouzi, Ahmed Marjan and Ayoub Id-Omar along with the amateur quartet of Adam Bresnu, Mohammed Nizar Bourehim, Hugo Mazen Trommetter and El Mehdi Fakori for the US$1.5 million event from November 3-6, the fifth of the Asian Tour’s new flagship series of elevated tournaments.
The Moroccan players will be gaining invaluable experience on the course in a strong field that includes current Order of Merit leader Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe and nearest challengers Sihwan Kim and Phachara Khongwatmai. All three are returning to Asian Tour duties after competing in the season-ending LIV Golf Team Championship on the Trump National Doral in Miami.
Lguirati said: “You cannot imagine the honour for me to be playing this event and representing my country. I am so delighted to play – especially on this course – the ‘Red Monster’ is a wonderful course and it is important for Morocco to host tournaments like this.
Ayoub Lguirati of Morocco answers questions during a press conference on Wednesday November 2, 2022 ahead of the International Series Morocco at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. The US$ 1.5 million Asian Tour event is staged from November 3-6, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
“It is a special opportunity for the Moroccan players to test themselves against the best players in the world, and it is a wonderful opportunity to grow the game of golf and raise awareness of the sport in the country.
“We have some really great players here – His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid and the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation are doing a great job developing the players over the years, and developing golf for everyone, and now you can see we have a really good field of local players this week in a big international tournament.”
Scott Vincent has enjoyed a season of many high points, but with the year drawing to an exciting conclusion the next few months could potentially lead to life-changing consequences.
With just four events remaining, including the International Series Morocco which starts tomorrow, the Zimbabwean is ranked first on the International Series Order of Merit (OOM) and fifth on the Asian Tour OOM, and with lucrative purses still to play for finishing top of both is a realistic possibility.
But despite the stakes being high, Vincent is staying typically grounded and not looking beyond the job at hand this week at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.
“I try not to think about it,” he said.
“Obviously, it is there, and people talk about it. For me it’s not a priority, I am just trying to work on being present, being here. This is one of the steps in my career, this is where I am now.
“I am focusing on the very next thing I have to do, which is a press conference I have to be at shortly. And, of course, any opportunity I have to come back and play in Africa it is a great thing.”
L-R- Ayoub Lguirati of Morocco, Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe and Sihwan Kim of the USA pictured during a press conference on Wednesday November 2, 2022 ahead of the International Series Morocco at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. The US$ 1.5 million Asian Tour event is staged from November 3-6, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The Tour journeys to the International Series Egypt next week, before heading to the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Bangladesh Open and the Indonesian Masters – which is also an International Series event.
Vincent leads the International Series OOM with earnings of US$407,025 from the four International Series events played so far, by about US$80,000 from American Sihwan Kim.
While on Asian Tour OOM he trails leader Bio Kim from Korea, who has won US$586,570, by close to US$180,000.
But all that could quickly change, as the Morocco, Egypt and Indonesian events boast purses of US$1.5 million (with the winner earning US$270,000).
“I think the course this week is going to show you who are the best players,” added Vincent.
“My game comes and goes, it is a work in progress and we try and stick to our routines and work the best with what we have. I am constantly working on it, trying to improve, trying to make my game the best it can be.”
In early June he recorded his breakthrough Asian Tour victory at the inaugural International Series England. It was his second victory in two weeks as he also claimed the Gate Way To The Open Mizuno Open on the Japan Golf Tour Organization – a victory that secured him a place in The Open Championship, his first major.
Vincent pictured during the Pro-am event on Wednesday November 2, 2022 ahead of the International Series Morocco at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. The US$ 1.5 million Asian Tour event is staged from November 3-6, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Thanks to his fine season, and success in the International Series England, Vincent has been able to play on the LIV Golf Series – which ended last week with the LIV Golf Series Team Championship in Miami.
It’s been an incredible experience for him and one that has no doubt prepared him well for the next critical stage of the 2022 season.
He said: “Just coming from last week, I haven’t fully digested it. Off the top of my head, those guys who are the best in the world, like Cameron Smith and Dustin Johnson, they are able to do what they do more consistently at a very high level and very often. I have got to find ways to do that very consistently.”
The 30 year old is the highest ranked player from his country on the Official World Golf Ranking in 86th position and is attempting to follow in the footsteps of Zimbabwe’s all-time greats Nick Price, Mark McNulty, Tony Johnstone and Dennis Watson.
He secured his Asian Tour card at the Qualifying School in 2016 and since then the talented golfer with the distinctive long blonde flowing hair has never looked back: in 2018 he placed fifth on the Merit list, finishing in the top-10 nine times, including three runner-up positions.
These are exciting times for Vincent with the only thing he may be slightly concerned about is that there is another player from his country who may try and usurp him: his younger brother Kieran, who turned professional this year, is very highly rated and is also competing this week.
L-R- Ayoub Lguirati of Morocco, Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe and Sihwan Kim of the USA pictured during a press conference on Wednesday November 2, 2022 ahead of the International Series Morocco at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. The US$ 1.5 million Asian Tour event is staged from November 3-6, 2022. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
This week’s US$1.5 million International Series Morocco is a giant step forward for the Asian Tour as it visits North Africa for the first time, but it is also marks the return of one of the giants of the Tour, Thailand’s ultra-talented golf star Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
The former Asian Tour number one has not competed on the circuit since 2019, choosing to focus on the PGA Tour, but he returns to his home Tour on Thursday when he tees-off at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.
And the four-time Asian Tour winner is in confident mood at the famous venue, which hosted The Hassan II Golf Trophy for four decades.
“My form is excellent,” said the Thai, winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2013.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand in during an official practice round on Tuesday, November 1, 2022 ahead of The International Series Morocco at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. The US$ 1.5 million Asian Tour event is staged from November 3-6, 2022. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
“I am playing with confidence and playing solid golf, and I’m very comfortable playing with my friends and feeling I am back where I belong, it is my first time on the Asian Tour for a long time.”
The 33 year old rose up through the ranks on the Asian Tour after turning professional 14 years ago – with his most recent victory coming in the ISPS Handa World Super 6 in Perth in 2018.
In June that year he also became the first Thai golfer to earn a card on the PGA Tour, although he has since lost his playing privileges there.
He said: “I haven’t been on the Asian Tour for a while, but I have been keeping an eye on it and it has been going from strength to strength so hopefully I can return with a win for myself, my friends on tour and my friends back home.”
The last time he competed on the Asian Tour was at the Thailand Masters in December 2019 and he returns at a time when the circuit is booming, helped by the introduction of the ground-breaking International Series events, launched earlier this year thanks to LIV Golf.
On the International Series, he said: “It is great, it gives a great opportunity to the new generation, there are a lot of younger players and a lot of new stars of the game and the International Series is helping them to build their careers and judging by the new players, I think the Asian Tour is doing things the right way.”
And, of course, this week gives him a great opportunity to meet the many friends he made on the Asian Tour over the past 10 plus years.
“I got here yesterday and first thing I did was spent a lot of time with Prom (Meesawat) and some other Thai players and it hit me that it was nearly 15 years ago, the first time we came out on tour and how we played together and went out on tour together,” he said.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Prom Meesawat of Thailand pictured during an official practice round on Tuesday, November 1, 2022 ahead of The International Series Morocco at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. The US$ 1.5 million Asian Tour event is staged from November 3-6, 2022. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.
“We had a lot of chat, talking about the past and the old times, and I think so far this is the happiest week in the past few years, I am at my happiest and enjoying it so far.”
The first of his Asian Tour victories came at the Sail Open in 2011 and as he looks to once again cross the fine line at the top between mediocrity and stardom the International Series Morocco is in his crosshairs.
Eight of Morocco’s finest local professional and amateur golfers have earned the chance to tee it up against some of the biggest names in world golf, by qualifying for the Asian Tour’s US$1.5 million International Series Morocco at the historic Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat from November 3-6.
Moroccan professional Ayoub Lguirati (main picture) earned his spot as winner of the National Professional Championship, while Yassine Touhami, Othmane Raouzi and Karim El Hali all secured a place in the field by finishing in the top three of the International Series Morocco qualifying events.
The four pros will be joined by a quartet of highly rated amateurs, eager for the chance to battle it out alongside eight of the top-10 in the International Series Order of Merit standings.
Eli Mehdi Fakori, winner of the National Amateur Championship and runner-up in the Africa Amateur Individual Championship, qualified as leading Moroccan on the World Amateur Golf Ranking while Hugo Mazen Trommetter joins him as National Amateur Championship runner-up.
Mohammed Nizar Bourehim secured his spot by finishing fourth in the International Series Morocco qualifying events while Adam Bresnu claimed a wild card from the Sport Commission. Fakori, Bourehim and Bresnu were also rewarded for being part of the triumphant Moroccan team in the African Amateur Team Championship (AACT).
Yassine Touhami made it through the International Series Morocco qualifying events. Picture by Warren Little/Getty Images.
Lguirati said: “As a professional golfer for the Moroccan national team, it is a privilege to play the first International Series Morocco – especially on the Red course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam which is extremely challenging.
“I’m honored to represent my country for this event. It’s an opportunity for me to challenge myself against some of the best players in the world and I hope to achieve my goal to get in a category to play other international series.”
Budding amateur Fakori, a national team member ranked 259 in the WAGR, added: “I am ecstatic to participate this week on the Asian Tour. I am looking forward to learning and gaining experience from other players.”
The International Series Morocco offers free admission for spectators across all four days. The series was launched earlier this year thanks to a landmark partnership between the Asian Tour and LIV Golf to invigorate the game in Asia and the Middle East, and events have been staged in Thailand, England, Singapore and Korea already this season.
Abderrahim Bouftas, President of the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, said: “The new International Series offers a chance for the world to see the very best from the Asian Tour and Moroccan golf. We are proud of our golfing tradition and this is a wonderful opportunity for Moroccan sports fans to see world class golf at the prestigious Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Red Course.”
Following the tournament, the Asian Tour swings into Egypt for the first time for the International Series Egypt at Madinaty Golf Club, Cairo, from November 10-13.
The Bangabandhu Cup Golf Bangladesh Open, one of the Asian Tour’s emerging tournaments with huge growth potential, will make a welcomed return to the schedule this season.
The event, which was last staged in 2019, will be played at its regular home Kurmitola Golf Club, in Bangladesh’s capital city Dhaka, from November 24-27 and will offer a purse of US$400,000.
It had to be postponed in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic but makes a popular return as the penultimate event of the season and will play a role in helping to determine the winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit title.
The tournament has the reputation of providing breakthrough wins for the next generation of Asian Tour stars such as Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, who triumphed in the tournament three years ago, for his maiden success on the Asian Tour.
Sadom Kaewkanjana celebrates after holing the winning putt at the Bangladesh Open in 2019.
In 2017 his compatriot Jazz Janewattananond also lifted his first Asian Tour trophy there which kick started a monumental run which included another five wins and the Asian Tour Order of Merit title in 2019.
Singaporean Mardan Mamat was victorious in 2015 which was the first year the event was played on the Asian Tour; while India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar and Bangladesh’s most famous golfing son Siddikur Rahman triumphed in 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO, Asian Tour: “The Bangabandhu Cup Golf Bangladesh Open is an essential part of the Asian Tour schedule and so we are absolutely delighted it will return this year.
“The tournament presents everything that the Asian Tour is trying to achieve in terms of staging tournaments in new, untapped markets and helping to encourage golf at grass roots level. It’s a relatively new event with a very bright future.”
It was first played in 2009, as part of the Professional Golf Tour of India, before joining the Asian Tour later.
General S. M. Shafiuddin Ahmed, Chief of Army Staff, Bangladesh Army and President, Bangladesh Golf Federation, said: “We are proud to organise the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Bangladesh Open at Kurmitola Golf Club in the name of ‘The Father of the Nation’ who was a sports loving person.
“After two difficult years when we were unable to stage our National Open, we are overjoyed to see the tournament return during the current calendar year. Bangladesh being a promising golf country is honoured to be able to host such international sporting events on this scale. This Asian Tour event will be a tremendous boost for the game of golf in Bangladesh.”
Siddikur, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, will once again lead to the local challenge.
Siddikur Rahman in action at Kurmitola in 2019.
While his victory in the event happened when it was not part of the Asian Tour, he did come close to winning in 2017, when he was runner up.
Remarkably, the Bangladesh star learned the game as a caddie at Kurmitola Golf Club and has an incredible track record in tournaments there.
He has claimed two Asian Development Tour events at Kurmitola: the Grameenphone Bangladesh Masters in 2011, and the 2018 City Bank American Express Dhaka Open.
And he was also second there in the Bangladesh Open in 2011 and 2012.
With three matches going the distance, including the singles duel between captains Cameron Smith of Punch GC and Phil Mickelson of Hy Flyers GC, the opening day of the historic LIV Golf Team Championship produced plenty of drama at Trump National Doral.
Smith, the reigning Open Champion and individual winner of the LIV Golf Invitational Chicago last month, beat the six-time major winner Mickelson 1 up with a seven-foot birdie putt on their final match hole. The outcome gave 11th-seeded Punch its second win against the 8th-seeded Hy Flyers in their three quarterfinal matches, allowing the all-Australian team to advance to Saturday’s semifinals.
In addition to Punch GC’s win, the other quarterfinal team winners on Friday were: 5th-seeded Smash GC, which beat 12th-seeded Niblicks GC 2-1; 6th-seeded Majesticks GC, which swept 9th-seeded Iron Heads GC 3-0; and 10th-seeded Cleeks GC, which beat 7th-seeded Torque GC 2-1, with both wins decided on the final match hole.
Along with the four winners on Friday, the four top seeds, which received byes and did not play Friday, will play in the semifinals. During the captains’ selection Friday night, Dustin Johnson’s top-seeded 4 Aces GC chose Cleeks GC as its opponent; Bryson DeChambeau of No. 2 seed Crushers GC opted to play 4th-seeded Stinger GC; Sergio Garcia of No. 3 seed Fireballs GC picked Punch GC; and that left Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC facing off against Ian Poulter’s Majesticks.
The same format in the quarterfinals will be used for Saturday’s semifinals. The teams will compete in three matches – two singles and one foursomes (alternate-shot) – with all players on each team competing. Each match is worth one point, and the teams that win two points advance to Sunday’s championship finals, which will be a stroke-play format with all scores counting.
Here is a recap of each match played Friday:
SMASH GC 2, NIBLICKS GC 1
Harold Varner/Niblicks def. Brooks Koepka/Smash, 4 & 3. Varner, the designated playing captain for non-playing captain Bubba Watson, won the second and third holes with birdies and never gave an opening to Koepka, the individual winner in Jeddah. Varner produced seven birdies in his first 10 holes to control the match. “I played well. I think I would have beat a lot of people,” Varner said. “… It just sucks we didn’t make it as a team.”
Sihwan Kim of Iron Heads GC plays his shot from the second tee during the quarterfinals of the LIV Golf Invitational – Miami at Trump National Doral Miami on October 28, 2022 in Doral, Florida. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf via Getty Images)
Peter Uihlein/Smash def. James Piot/Niblicks, 5 & 3. Uihlein, the runner-up in Jeddah, won the opening hole with a birdie, then took command midway through the match with four winning birdies in a six-hole stretch. Uilhein was a bogey-free 7 under in his 15 holes played.
Jason Kokrak-Chase Koepka/Smash def. Turk Pettit-Hudson Swafford/Niblicks, 2 & 1. The Smash duo won the first three holes but the Niblicks fought back and were just 1 down after 10 holes. Then Smash rebuilt its lead until another Niblicks rally. Up 1 with two holes to play, Smash closed it out with a birdie.
CLEEKS GC 2, TORQUE GC 1
Joaquin Niemann/Torque def. Shergo Al Kurdi/Cleeks, 5 & 3. The Torque captain won all four par-5 holes to knock off the 19-year-old replacement player for injured Cleeks captain Martin Kaymer. Niemann took the lead for good with a birdie on the sixth match hole (the par-5 10th) and never trailed.
Laurie Canter/Cleeks def. Jediah Morgan/Torque, 1 up. Canter birdied the final hole, the par-4 10th, to complete his rally. The Englishman was 2 down with six holes to play before winning two consecutive holes to tie the match. Morgan responded with a winning birdie to reclaim the lead before finding trouble on the next hole, giving Canter the opening he needed.
Richard Bland-Graeme McDowell/Cleeks def. Scott Vincent-Adrian Otaegui/Torque, 2 up. With the match tied entering the last three holes, the Cleeks duo birdied the par-3 fourth before winning the final hole with a par. The Torque pair was behind most of the match before rallying late with three winning holes, but McDowell provided the decisive shots. “He was just clutch all day,” Bland said of McDowell. “I love this dude next to me.”
PUNCH GC 2, HY FLYERS GC 1
Cameron Smith/Punch def. Phil Mickelson/Hy Flyers, 1 up. The top-billed match of the day lived up to the hype, with the Punch captain prevailing with a birdie on the final hole, the par-5 eighth, after Mickelson caught the rough on his tee shot. The two team captains combined for just six birdies, and the lead was never more than 1 up on either side. “We both struck the ball good,” Smith said. “I probably didn’t hole as many putts as I’d like, but I was able to get the job done there on the last hole.” Said Mickelson: “It’s disappointing on that last hole. I thought I hit a good drive, thought it hit the fairway. Surprised it was in the rough.”
Sadom Kaewkanjana of Iron Heads GC, Phachara Khongwatmai of Iron Heads GC and Henrik Stenson of Majesticks GC stand on the 17th tee during the quarterfinals of the LIV Golf Invitational – Miami at Trump National Doral Miami on October 28, 2022 in Doral, Florida. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf via Getty Images)
Marc Leishman/Punch def. Matthew Wolff/Hy Flyers, 4 and 2. With the match tied through 12 holes, Leishman won the next four holes to close out the big-hitting Wolff. Leishman was 2 down after seven holes before fighting back, and made two late birdies while Wolff found trouble.
Bernd Wiesberger-Cameron Tringale/Hy Flyers def. Matt Jones-Wade Ormsby/Punch, 3 and 2. The match was tied through 10 holes before the Hy Flyers duo won three consecutive holes (two with pars) to take control.
MAJESTICKS GC 3, IRON HEADS GC 0
Ian Poulter/Majesticks def. Kevin Na/Iron Heads, 4 & 2. Na won the third hole before Poulter roared back. The Majesticks captain won the match’s fifth hole (at the par-5 1st) with a birdie and never trailed after that, as he played 16 holes in a bogey-free 4 under. “He drew first blood,” Poulter said, “and it was head down, get focused.”
Lee Westwood/Majesticks def. Sihwan Kim/Iron Heads, 4 & 3. Kim opened with a winning birdie, but Westwood won the match’s third hole with a par to square it. Westwood’s birdie at the par-4 second then gave him a lead he would not relinquish.
Sam Horsfield-Henrik Stenson/Majesticks def. Sadom Kaewkanjana-Phachara Khongwatmai/Iron Heads, 4 & 2. The Majesticks pair never trailed, taking the lead for good with a par on the fourth hole of the match. That was the start of four consecutive winning holes.
PREVIEW OF SATURDAY’S SEMI-FINALS
4 ACES GC vs. CLEEKS GC. 4 Aces captain Dustin Johnson will face Shergo Al Kurdi, the replacement for injured Cleeks captain Martin Kaymer. The 19-year-old Kurdi was paired with Johnson in the first round in Boston after filling in for Henrik Stenson, but the match play format obviously creates different challenges.
Scott Vincent of Torque GC lines up a putt on the eighth greenduring the quarterfinals of the LIV Golf Invitational – Miami at Trump National Doral Miami on October 28, 2022 in Doral, Florida. (Photo by Patrick Smith/LIV Golf via Getty Images)
“It’s an unbelievable matchup,” Kurdi said. “I’ve always watched him on TV in the past, and I’ve always looked up to him. Watching him firsthand in Boston, it was also unbelievable, and obviously he won that week, so it was a brilliant week to be playing with him.”
Said Johnson: “All the teams are great. Any team can win at any point. It’s match play. I felt like this is our best option.”
In the other singles match, 4 Aces’ Patrick Reed will face Laurie Canter. In the foursomes match, Pat Perez and Talor Gooch will take on Friday winners Graeme McDowell and Richard Bland of Cleeks.
Kaymer has high hopes, especially for his foursomes duo. “Richard is a very solid ball-striker. He hits many fairways,” Kaymer said. “G-Mac is very good in the short game, so I think they matched up really well. I don’t want to play against those two.”
CRUSHERS GC vs. STINGER GC. Crushers captain Bryson DeChambeau could have picked one of the lower-seeded teams that played Friday, but instead he opted for the Stingers, who also had the bye. That sets up a singles match against Stinger captain Louis Oosthuizen.
“Considering some of the injuries that they’ve had, and my 4-iron going past his driver in Jeddah, we feel like there’s a good chance there,” DeChambeau said.
Replied Oosthuizen: “I know I’m hitting into the greens first with my match against Bryson. I’m not sure how he copes under pressure. We’ll see that tomorrow.”
In the other singles match, Portland winner Branden Grace – who has an oblique muscle injury that forced him to WD in Bangkok – will play the Crushers’ Paul Casey. In the foursomes match, London winner Charl Schwartzel and teammate Hennie du Plessis, who rejoined Stinger for this event, face off against Charles Howell III and Anirban Lahiri.
FIREBALLS GC vs. PUNCH GC. Fireballs captain Sergio Garcia didn’t hesitate to go up against the reigning Open champ in Cameron Smith in singles. “We’re going to take the ones with the best hair,” Garcia said with a laugh. “Obviously we made a list, and that was one of our choices, and some of the other ones were gone already. We feel like we can match up nicely to them.”
Replied Smith: “Looking forward to playing my boy Sergio. Wasn’t really expecting that.”
In the other singles match, Fireballs’ Carlos Ortiz will face Marc Leishman. In the foursomes match, Abraham Ancer and Bangkok winner Eugenio Chacarra will face Punch’s Matt Jones and Wade Ormsby.
SMASH GC vs. MAJESTICKS GC. Smash captain Brooks Koepka didn’t have much of a chance against the hot hand of Harold Varner III, and now the Jeddah individual winner will face Majesticks captain Ian Poulter, who thrives in this kind of setting.
“Poults is pretty good at match play, so that’ll be interesting,” Koepka said.
Poulter expects Koepka to bounce back. “I need to go out and play strong tomorrow,” he said. “Brooks is coming off a win a couple of weeks ago, so they’ve got a strong team. But so do we. … I think we dominated our match today, but tomorrow is going to be a tougher test, and we need to step up.”
In the other singles match, Smash’s Peter Uihlein will face Lee Westwood. In the foursomes match, the Smash duo of Jason Kokrak and Chase Koepka will play Henrik Stenson and Sam Horsfield.
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