Bhullar climbs to T-27 with 4-under 69 in International Series Morocco
Synopsis
Gaganjeet Bhullar's five-birdie, one-bogey 69 in Round 3 at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam lifted the 11-time Asian Tour champion 20 places up the leaderboard. But the real drama is at the top: Bubba Watson — chasing his first win since 2018 — holds a one-shot lead over a hard-charging Jazz Janewattananond heading into the final round of the USD 2 million event.
Key Takeaways
Gaganjeet Bhullar carded 4-under 69 in Round 3, moving from T-47 to T-27 at the International Series Morocco .
Bubba Watson leads at 15-under after a 4-under 69 , one shot clear of Jazz Janewattananond (67) and two ahead of Taichi Kho (68).
Karandeep Kochhar is at T-43 with a three-round total of 4-under after a 2-under 71 .
Ajeetesh Sandhu slipped to T-47 after a volatile round of 74 , including a double bogey.
Takanori Konishi fired a bogey-free 66 to move to T-4 at 12-under .
Watson is seeking his first win since the 2018 Travelers Championship on the PGA Tour.
Gaganjeet Bhullar moved up sharply in the leaderboard on Saturday, carding a 4-under 69 in the third round of the USD 2 million International Series Morocco at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat. The 11-time Asian Tour champion climbed from T-47 to T-27 despite a closing bogey on the ninth hole.
Bhullar's Round in Detail
Bhullar, who started on the back nine, opened his round with birdies on the 10th and 15th holes. After the turn, he added further gains on the third, fifth, and eighth holes to reach 5-under for the day. A bogey on the ninth, his final hole, trimmed his round to 4-under, giving him a three-round aggregate of 9-under through scores of 70-74-69.
Other Indian Challengers
Karandeep Kochhar, also starting from the tenth tee, produced a mixed but steady 2-under 71. He made five birdies, including three consecutive gains from the seventh to the ninth on his first nine, but gave shots back with three bogeys on the second nine. His three-round total of 4-under left him at T-43.
Ajeetesh Sandhu endured a volatile outing, recording six birdies alongside six bogeys or worse — including a double bogey — for a round of 74. He slipped from T-25 to T-47 as a result.
Watson Leads, But Rivals Close In
Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, 47, retained the lead at 15-under despite back-to-back bogeys on the 14th and 15th holes that halted a promising run of 5-under through 12 holes. A birdie on the drivable 17th steadied his card, and he finished with a 4-under 69 on the par-73 Red Course. Watson, the captain of LIV Golf's RangeGoats GC, is seeking his first victory since the 2018 Travelers Championship on the PGA Tour.
He leads by just one shot over Thailand's Jazz Janewattananond, the 2022 International Series Morocco champion, who fired a 67 and closed with a birdie-eagle finish. Hong Kong's Taichi Kho sits a further shot back after a composed 68, closing with three pars.
Rest of the Leaderboard
Japan's Takanori Konishi posted the round's cleanest card — a bogey-free 66 — to move into a tie for fourth at 12-under alongside Thailand's Pavit Tangkamolprasert (72). Frenchman Julien Sale (68) and Thailand's Suteepat Prateeptienchai (70) share sixth place at 11-under.
Morocco's Mehdi El Fakori, the only home player to survive the cut, carded his second consecutive 70 to move to T-33 at 5-under. With one round remaining, Watson's lead is slender and the chasing pack is well within striking distance.
Point of View
Seven years without a win, holding a one-shot lead at a USD 2 million event. If he closes it out, it will reopen questions about LIV's competitive relevance on the global stage. If he doesn't, the narrative writes itself.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Gaganjeet Bhullar perform in Round 3 of the International Series Morocco?
Bhullar carded a 4-under 69, his best round of the tournament, to climb from T-47 to T-27. He made five birdies but dropped a shot on his final hole, the ninth.
Who leads the International Series Morocco after Round 3?
Bubba Watson leads at 15-under par after a 4-under 69. He holds a one-shot advantage over Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand, who fired a 67 on Saturday.
What is the prize money for the International Series Morocco?
The International Series Morocco carries a total purse of USD 2 million, making it one of the more lucrative events on the Asian Tour calendar.
How are the other Indian players placed after Round 3?
Karandeep Kochhar is at T-43 with a three-round total of 4-under, while Ajeetesh Sandhu slipped to T-47 after a difficult round of 74 that included a double bogey.
When did Bubba Watson last win on the PGA Tour?
Watson's last PGA Tour victory came at the 2018 Travelers Championship. A win in Rabat would be his first professional victory since then.
