Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson has surged to the top of the leaderboard alongside Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert at the halfway stage of the International Series Morocco. Navigating the demanding Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, the duo sits tied for the lead at eleven-under par for the US$2 million event. Tangkamolprasert, who held the outright lead after the opening day, managed to preserve his position at the summit, while the forty-seven-year-old American vaulted up the standings with a masterful second-round performance in the North African capital.

Watson delivered a spectacular exhibition of shot-shaping and precision on the greens, carding a seven-under-par 66 for the lowest round of the day. The LIV Golf standout struck fifteen of eighteen fairways and required a mere twenty-six putts, registering eight birdies against a single dropped shot. Having not secured a professional victory since 2018, the American veteran showcased vintage form, capitalising on excellent green-reading and an ability to consistently find the correct positions on a layout that severely punishes poor ball-striking.

For Tangkamolprasert, the second round was a story of gritty resilience. The two-time Asian Tour winner endured a difficult start, suffering two bogeys in his opening eight holes before a vital birdie on the challenging par-three ninth shifted his momentum. The thirty-seven-year-old subsequently picked up crucial strokes on his final two holes to salvage a three-under-par 70 and retain a share of the lead. The Thai star expressed immense enthusiasm about his weekend prospects, particularly the opportunity to be grouped with Watson, a player he had idolised and photographed as a spectator during a tournament in 2012.

The co-leaders face fierce competition from a congested chasing pack heading into the weekend. South Korea’s Younghan Song sits just one stroke adrift at ten-under par following a solid 69, whilst a formidable group shares fourth place at nine-under. This contingent includes defending champion Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe, current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Travis Smyth, and the in-form Taichi Kho of Hong Kong. Further down the leaderboard, Mehdi El Fakori gave the home crowds reason to cheer by becoming the only Moroccan competitor to successfully make the cut following rounds of 74 and 70.