Bubba Watson moved within 18 holes of ending a lengthy victory drought after taking sole possession of the lead following the third round of the International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco on Saturday, June 13, at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat. The two-time Masters champion carded a four-under-par 69 to reach 15-under overall and secure a narrow one-shot advantage heading into the final round.

The American veteran appeared firmly in control for much of the day after collecting five birdies through his first 13 holes on the demanding Red Course. Although a pair of late bogeys briefly slowed his momentum, Watson recovered with a crucial birdie on the drivable par-four 17th to maintain his position at the top of the leaderboard.

Watson is seeking his first professional victory since capturing the Travelers Championship on the PGA Tour in 2018. The LIV Golf star will enter Sunday’s final round with a slim edge over a talented chasing pack.

Watson Holds Narrow Edge

Watson’s round featured moments of brilliance despite struggles off the tee. He hit just eight of 15 fairways but compensated by finding 15 greens in regulation and consistently giving himself birdie opportunities.

One of the most memorable moments came on the 10th hole when Watson rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt shortly after playing partner Pavit Tangkamolprasert had slam-dunked an eagle. The American later acknowledged that damage around the cup may have helped the putt find the bottom of the hole.

“It was a long day out there today. The round seemed to take forever, which made it difficult to get into a rhythm at times. I only made one bad mistake with a three-putt on the 15th hole. Other than that, it was a great day,” Watson said.

The former Masters champion also enjoyed having family members walking alongside him during the round. Watson said the support of his daughter added perspective and helped him enjoy the experience regardless of the score.

“My daughter couldn’t care less what I’m shooting, and that’s pretty awesome. It’s great to have her out here. She loves me no matter what I shoot, and that’s always a great feeling,” he said.

Challengers Stay Close

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond produced one of the strongest finishes of the day to move into a share of second place at 14-under. The former champion closed with birdie and eagle over his final two holes to card a six-under-par 67.

The strong finish was particularly impressive after Jazz suffered a double bogey on the ninth hole. Rather than letting the setback derail his round, he responded with aggressive and confident play over the closing stretch.

“I’m just hoping I can bring the same level of ball-striking, putting and overall play from the last two days into the final round,” Jazz said. “If I can do that, I think I will give myself a really good chance.”

Hong Kong standout Taichi Kho joined Jazz in second place after a five-under-par 68. Fresh off a runner-up finish on the Japan Golf Tour last week, Kho continued his impressive form despite finding water with his tee shot on the 17th hole.

“It was really good. I started a bit shaky and didn’t feel quite comfortable. However, I think something I’ve learned this year is that I can still play freely and play well despite feeling uncomfortable,” Kho said.

Japan’s Takanori Konishi remained firmly in contention after firing a bogey-free seven-under-par 66. The Japanese golfer missed only one green in regulation and climbed into a tie for fourth place at 12-under alongside Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert.

Frenchman Julien Sale and Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai shared sixth place at 11-under, while Morocco’s Mehdi El Fakori delighted local fans by improving to five-under overall after posting a second consecutive three-under-par 70.

With several players separated by only a handful of shots, the final round promises a compelling battle as Watson attempts to secure his first victory in seven years while a talented group of challengers seeks to deny him at one of the Asian Tour’s premier events.