Meet the champion Ayoub Lguirati
Ayoub Lguirati is among a select group of local favourites to wear the region’s colours at the International Series Morocco, and the local hero will be hoping to replicate his impressive form of two years ago when he plays on the Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam next week.
International Series Morocco is the third of 10 high-profile events on the Asian Tour calendar that provide a pathway to the LIV Golf League, while giving local and regional talent the opportunity to compete against top golfers from around the world.
At the 2022 edition, Lguirati was the only Moroccan to qualify, and he went on to impress with a superb T28 finish.
This year, Lguirati is one of eight Moroccans in a world-class field that includes LIV Golf League stars including Graeme McDowell, Branden Grace, Peter Uihlein and Caleb Surratt, as well as multiple Asian Tour champions Scott Hend, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Jazz Janewattananond, the 2022 champion.
Lguirati said: “The tournament is very important for us as local golfers, it’s amazing to have this event in Morocco because it opens up a lot of opportunities outside the country, especially on the Asian Tour and the Asian Development Tour. As players, we have the opportunity to learn every day from those around us. After my experience in 2022, and after learning from the players on the course, I am much better in my process. I am calm and more relaxed, I try to stick to my strategy, play my game and be more patient.”
The 29-year-old is joined on the pitch by local professionals Othman Raouzi, Ayoub Id-Omar and Ahmed Marjane, as well as promising amateurs Hugo Mazen Trommetter, Aissa Elkhadri, Adam Bresnu and Soufiane Dahmane.
Emirati amateur Ahmad Skaik and American amateur Davis Bryant also received invitations to the tournament from the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation (RMGF).
The Saudi trio of Othman Almulla, Saud Al Sharif and Faisal Salhab will also represent the region.
All will be hoping to follow in Lguirati’s footsteps. His impressive result in Rabat last time out paid off, in the form of an invitation to the International Series Egypt in Cairo the following week.
Another impressive performance, and a T37 in Cairo, then earned Lguirati a spot at the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by TNE, where he once again made the cut and finished T38 in a star-studded field.
Lguirati, who currently plies his trade on the Asian Development Tour, hopes home advantage will count for something.
He stated : “We have very talented players from Morocco and the region this year, a good mix of professionals and amateurs, and it’s a great opportunity for everyone, we have a good team of Moroccan players.
“Playing on the red course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam is a big advantage for the Moroccan players because it is a home course for us. It is a very difficult course, the greens in particular are very difficult, so it is good for us to have the knowledge of the course and the home advantage.”
The International Series Morocco takes place from July 4 to 7. It is the third event on the International Series calendar and the eighth event of the Asian Tour season.
