Ajeetesh Sandhu Emerges as Top Indian While Bubba Watson Charges Into Lead at International Series Morocco

Indian golfer Ajeetesh Sandhu produced a composed bogey-free round to become the highest-placed Indian after two rounds of the US$2 million International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco in Rabat. Sandhu carded a three-under-par 70 to move to four-under overall, placing him in a tie for 25th heading into the weekend.

The second round also saw former Masters champion Bubba Watson surge into a share of the tournament lead after recording the lowest score of the day, while experienced Indians Gaganjeet Bhullar and Karandeep Kochhar successfully made the cut despite contrasting performances.

Starting the day at one-under after an opening-round 72, Sandhu displayed consistency and patience on the demanding Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. His round featured birdies on the fifth, 11th and 12th holes without conceding a single bogey, an impressive achievement on a layout that has challenged many players throughout the tournament.

The bogey-free effort elevated him to four-under par overall and made him the leading Indian in the field after 36 holes. With two rounds still to play, Sandhu remains well positioned to climb further up the leaderboard if he can maintain his steady ball striking and disciplined approach.

Four-time AM Green IGPL winner Gaganjeet Bhullar endured a roller-coaster second round before securing his place for the final two days. Bhullar began from the 10th hole and struggled early, registering three bogeys and just one birdie over his opening stretch. His difficulties continued with a double bogey on the par-three second, leaving him three over for the round.

However, the experienced campaigner showcased his fighting qualities by producing four consecutive birdies from the fifth hole onwards to pull himself back into contention. A closing bogey on the ninth resulted in a second-round 74, enough to see him finish at two-under overall and tied for 47th. His recovery after a difficult start ensured he remained inside the cut line despite a challenging day.

Karandeep Kochhar matched his opening-round score of 72 with another level-par performance to join Bhullar at tied 47th. Although he could not produce a low round to move into the top 30, Kochhar’s consistency over the opening two days proved sufficient to secure a place in the weekend field. The experienced Indian will now look to produce an aggressive performance over the final two rounds to improve his finishing position.

Seven of the ten Indian golfers in the field failed to survive the halfway cut.

Among the most unfortunate was Anirban Lahiri, who missed qualification for the weekend by a single stroke. The same fate befell Shaurya Bhattacharya and veteran SSP Chawrasia, both of whom narrowly fell short despite competitive efforts.

The remaining players to bow out after 36 holes included Rashid Khan, Aryan Roopa Anand, and Udayan Mane, bringing an early end to their campaigns in Morocco.

While the Indian contingent experienced mixed fortunes, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson produced one of the standout rounds of the tournament. The American fired a stunning seven-under 66, the best score of the day, to move into a share of the lead at 11-under par alongside Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert. Watson’s round featured eight birdies against just one bogey as he repeatedly found fairways and greens with trademark precision. His exceptional putting performance, requiring only 26 putts, played a key role in his climb up the leaderboard.

The 47-year-old has not won since the 2018 Travelers Championship on the PGA Tour, but his performance in Rabat demonstrated that he remains capable of competing at the highest level.

Co-leader Pavit Tangkamolprasert once again showcased resilience after an inconsistent start. Two bogeys in his opening eight holes briefly stalled his momentum, but the Thai golfer recovered strongly with timely birdies over the closing stretch to post a three-under 70 and maintain his share of first place.

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One stroke behind the leading duo sits South Korea’s Younghan Song at ten-under, while Australia’s Travis Smyth, defending champion Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe and Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho occupy the next positions at nine-under.

Former International Series Morocco champion Jazz Janewattananond and fellow Thai golfer Suteepat Prateeptienchai remain within striking distance at eight-under.

With only Sandhu, Bhullar and Kochhar progressing, India’s hopes now rest on the experienced trio to produce strong weekend performances. Sandhu appears best placed after his composed second-round display and will be aiming to push into the top 10 if he can continue converting scoring opportunities while avoiding mistakes. Bhullar’s resilience in battling back from early setbacks highlights his ability to recover under pressure, while Kochhar possesses enough experience to mount a charge if his putter catches fire.

As the International Series Morocco enters its decisive stages, the leaderboard remains tightly packed despite Watson and Pavit sharing the advantage. For Indian golf fans, Ajeetesh Sandhu’s rise into the top 25 provides optimism, while Gaganjeet Bhullar and Karandeep Kochhar remain alive in the competition after successfully making the cut.

With 36 holes still to be played and plenty of scoring opportunities available, the weekend promises an intriguing battle both at the top of the leaderboard and among the chasing pack looking to make their move.