Bubba Watson’s eight-year wait for a win goes on after an agonizing near miss at the International Series Morocco.
LIV Golf is seven days into a seven-week break between events, and Watson kept busy by teeing it up in the International Series event in North Africa. And he was well placed to claim his first victory on any tour since the 2018 Travelers Championship.
The 47-year-old took a one-shot lead into Sunday’s final round at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, but he was outdone by Hong Kong’s Tahchi Kho, who birdied the last to reach 19 under par and beat Watson by one. Still, he had a better week than fellow LIV star Sergio Garcia, who missed the cut.
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Watson posted a three-under-par 70 on Sunday, making a clutch birdie at 17 to tie Kho heading to the last. But it was not enough, parring the last as a golden chance to end his barren run passed him by.
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, who started the final loop in a tie for second with Kho, had to settle for third place at 15 under. LIV member Elvis Smylie, meanwhile, fired a seven-under-par 66 — the round of the day — to finish in the top five.
Watson, who endured a poor run of form to start the season after having a procedure on his left hand, will doubtless be encouraged by his return to form, but his pair of Masers titles are a distant memory, and chances to win have been few and far between in recent years.
But he aired regrets when he spoke to reporters after his round. He said: “I played great. I played as well as I could. Taichi beat me by one, and it was great to see a young player like that perform so well.
Taichi Kho birdied the last to win by one -Credit:Ian Walton/Asian Tour
“It shows the game of golf is in a great spot, and it was fun to watch how well he played today. He actually told me after the round that he used to watch me growing up, so that was pretty special. I told him he’s a great player. If he keeps doing what he’s doing, he’s going to have a great career.”
Kho, 25, scored his second Asian Tour victory, and the world No. 360 is sure to reach a new career high in Monday’s world rankings update.
After getting his hands on the trophy, Kho said he idolized Watson as a child, telling reporters: “I was so pumped up on the golf course. I think playing with Bubba is like a dream come true. I remember watching him win two Masters when I was a little kid. For me to be going neck and neck with him for five hours today, the child inside me was jumping up and down.
“I didn’t even think of winning until the last putt dropped. Golf is a really psychological game, and I think one thing that I continue to learn is that a lot of thoughts are going to go through your mind, whether they’re good or bad, and it’s my ability to be able to play freely and play to my instincts through those thoughts. That is what really made the difference for me.
“My last four-footer winning putt felt like a truly impossible putt. I did not know how it was going to break. The putt felt so long, and the hole felt so small, but there was a part of me that knew I had the ability to be free in that situation. That’s what really helped me hit a good putt. It’s a real mental battle out there, but I’m really glad to get that done.”
LIV is on hiatus until its tour stop in the United Kingdom in July, and it remains to be seen if Watson will play another Asian Tour event in the interim to stay busy. He has not qualified for the U.S. Open or The Open Championship.