Ayoub Lguirati (main picture) is part of a select group of home favourites flying the flag for the region at International Series Morocco, and the local hero is hoping to reproduce his impressive form from two years ago when he tees it up on Royal Golf Dar Es Salam’s testing Red Course next week.

International Series Morocco is the third of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour calendar that offer a pathway onto the LIV Golf League, while also giving local and regional talent an opportunity to play elite-level golfers from around the world.

In the 2022 edition, Lguirati was the sole Moroccan to make the cut, and he went on to impress with a superb T28 finish.

This year, Lguirati is one of seven Moroccans in a world-class field that features LIV Golf League stars including Graeme McDowell, Branden Grace, Peter Uihlein and Caleb Surratt, as well as multiple Asian Tour champions Scott Hend, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Jazz Janewattananond, the 2022 champion.

Lguirati said: “The tournament is very important for us as local golfers, it is amazing to have this event in Morocco because it opens a lot of opportunities outside the country, especially on the Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour.

Ayoub Lguirati.

“As players we get the opportunity to really learn every day from those around us. After my experience in 2022, and learning from the players in the field then, I am a lot better in my process. I am calm and more relaxed, I try to respect my strategy and play my game and be more patient.”

The 29-year-old is joined in the field by local professionals Othman Raouzi and Ayoub Id-Omar, as well as promising amateurs Hugo Mazen Trommetter, Aissa Elkhadri, Adam Bresnu and Soufiane Dahmane.

UAE amateur Ahmad Skaik and American amateur Davis Bryant also received tournament invites from the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation (RMGF).

The Saudi trio of Othman Almulla, Saud Al Sharif and Faisal Salhab will also be representing the region.

All will be hoping to follow in Lguirati’s footsteps. His impressive finish in Rabat last time out paid major dividends, in the form of an invite to International Series Egypt in Cairo the following week.

Another impressive display, and a T37 in Cairo, then gave Lguirati a spot at the
season-ending BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE, where he once again made the cut and finished T38 in a star-studded field.

Ayoub Lguirati.

Lguirati, who currently plies his trade on the Asian Development Tour, is hoping that home advantage will count for something.

He said: “We have some really talented players from Morocco and the region this year, a nice mix of professionals and amateurs, and this is a terrific opportunity for all, we have a good team of Moroccan players.

“Playing the Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam is a big advantage for the Moroccan players as it is a home course for us. It is a very difficult course, the greens especially are very tough, so it is good for us to have the course knowledge and home advantage.”

International Series Morocco takes place from 4-7 July. It is the third event on The International Series calendar and the eighth event of the Asian Tour season.