Watson's Moroccan Magic: A 66 That Reminded Us Why We Fell in Love
The Red Course Awakens to Vintage Bubba
There are rounds that simply remind you why you watch golf. Bubba Watson's seven-under-par 66 at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam's Red Course on Friday was precisely that kind of round—a masterclass in creativity, precision, and the quiet confidence of a player who knows his game is returning.
The two-time Masters champion now shares the halfway lead at the International Series Morocco with Thailand's Pavit Tangkamolprasert, both sitting at 11-under 135. Korea's Younghan Song lurks just one stroke back after a 69, and the weekend promises the kind of drama that makes this sport irresistible.
Walking the Fairways of Rabat
If you've never experienced Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, you're missing one of North Africa's genuine treasures. The Red Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and opened in 1971, weaves through cork oak forests with the kind of natural elegance that modern courses often struggle to replicate. The green complexes here demand respect—they're subtle, deceptive, and utterly unforgiving to anything less than precise iron play.
Watson, it appears, had the course figured out. He found 15 of 18 fairways—a remarkable feat on a layout that rewards accuracy over brute force. For a player whose reputation was built on towering hooks and impossible shapes through the trees, Friday's performance showed a different dimension: disciplined, patient, strategic.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Eight birdies against a single bogey. Just 26 putts on greens that can reduce lesser players to frustration. At 47 years old, the RangeGoats GC captain in LIV Golf is playing with the kind of freedom that comes from experience and the absence of anything left to prove.
His last PGA Tour victory came at the 2018 Travelers Championship, but watching Watson shape shots around Rabat's ancient trees, you sense that the competitive fire still burns. The shot-making ability that earned him those two Green Jackets—that impossible creativity that made galleries gasp—it's still there, waiting for the right moments to emerge.
Pavit's Steady Presence
While Watson provided the fireworks with the low round of the day, Pavit Tangkamolprasert has been building his own compelling narrative. The Thai player's consistency through two rounds has been admirable, and he'll enter the weekend knowing he belongs at the top of this leaderboard.
This US$2 million event, the third elevated tournament on the Asian Tour calendar, has attracted a quality field, and the packed chasing group suggests we're in for a genuine contest over the final 36 holes.
What Makes Morocco Special
There's something about golf in Morocco that feels different. Perhaps it's the light—that golden North African quality that photographers chase and painters try to capture. Perhaps it's the history, the sense that you're playing through landscapes that have hosted kings and champions. Royal Golf Dar Es Salam has welcomed everyone from King Hassan II, who commissioned its creation, to the world's finest professionals.
The Red Course asks questions that modern target-golf venues often neglect: Can you shape the ball both ways? Can you control your trajectory through tree-lined corridors? Can you read greens that break against every instinct?
Watson answered yes to all of them on Friday.
Looking Ahead
The weekend at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam promises compelling viewing. Watson brings star power and shot-making genius; Pavit brings composure and local form; Song and the chasing pack bring hunger and opportunity.
For those of us who believe golf courses are meant to examine every aspect of a player's skill, the Red Course is delivering. For those who remember Watson's Augusta brilliance and wondered if we'd see it again—Friday was a beautiful reminder.
Key Takeaways
- Watson's 66 featured 15 fairways hit, eight birdies, and just 26 putts—vintage performance from the two-time Masters champion
- Royal Golf Dar Es Salam's Red Course continues to prove itself as one of North Africa's finest examination venues
- The halfway leaderboard sets up a wide-open weekend with multiple players in contention at this US$2 million International Series event
- At 47, Watson is showing that shot-making artistry doesn't diminish with age when the mind and body work in harmony