Online Reporter
THE spotlight will once again fall on top Zimbabwean professional golfer Scott Vincent when he defends his title at the International Series Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, this week.
Vincent and Moroccan star Ayoub Lguirati will lead a strong local and regional challenge at International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco, as emerging MENA talent tests itself against a world-class field in Rabat featuring Major champions, LIV Golf stars and leading Asian Tour players at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.
The US$2 million event, taking place from tomorrow to Sunday, June 14 in Rabat, features Major champions Bubba Watson and Sergio Garcia, LIV Golf stars Abraham Ancer and Branden Grace, defending champion Vincent, and leading players from the Asian Tour.
Vincent has established himself as one of the defining success stories of The International Series, becoming the first player to win The International Series Rankings twice following triumphs in 2022 and 2025.
His victory in Rabat last season, coupled with a runner-up finish at the Jakarta International Championship, propelled him to the top of the Rankings, a position he held through the remainder of the season to earn his return to the LIV Golf League.
The 33-year-old has carried that momentum into 2026 with a string of impressive performances on LIV Golf, including a fourth-place finish at LIV Golf Mexico City and a tied-eighth result at MAADEN LIV Golf Virginia, where he was called up by HyFlyers GC to replace six-time Major champion Phil Mickelson.
“I’m excited to be back in Morocco, and it’s an honour to defend my title,” said Vincent. “It’s always special returning to an event that played such a big role in my career. I’ve been working hard on my game and saw some really positive signs in Mexico, while continuing to learn and improve each week, so I’m looking forward to testing myself again in Rabat.”
For Lguirati, the opportunity arrives at the perfect time.
One of Morocco’s most recognisable professional golfers, he has been a regular presence since the inaugural International Series Morocco in 2022 when he became the only local player to make the cut and finished tied-28th against a stacked international field.
He returns in some of the best form of his career after recording a personal-best finish on the Asian Tour, tying for 13th at last week’s am green IGPL Bharath Classic in El Jadida.
“It’s a great feeling and a real privilege; The International Series Morocco is a very special tournament for me,” said Lguirati.
“As a Moroccan player competing on the Asian Development Tour, this is exactly the kind of opportunity I am look-ing for. The field is very strong, the level is high, and playing here at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam always gives me extra motivation.”
Lguirati believes the recent run of professional tournaments in Morocco has created meaningful opportunities for local players to develop and compete at a higher level.
“It means a lot; the recent events played in Morocco, in partnership with the Asian Tour and IGPL, have created a strong dynamic for local professional players and across the region,” he added.
“For us, it is very important to have opportunities to compete at home against international fields, gain experience and be exposed to a higher level of competition. Earning a place in International Series Morocco through this pathway shows how valuable these events can be.
“It also reflects the momentum created by the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation by bringing tournaments of this level to Morocco and creating the right conditions for Moroccan players to compete, progress and connect with major international circuits.”
Joining Lguirati in the field are six fellow Moroccan talents eager to make their mark on home soil. Among them is El Mehdi Fakori, who made the cut at last week’s am green IGPL Bharath Classic and finished two-under-par for the tournament. Fakori also competed at International Series Morocco in 2025 and returns with valuable experience at this level.
Ayoub Id-Omar earns another opportunity after making his International Series debut in 2024.
He was Morocco’s leading performer at the am green IGPL Morocco Rising Stars, finishing tied-31st at four-under-par.
Amateurs Hugo Trommetter and Youssef El Hali continue their progression after regularly representing Morocco throughout 2024 and 2025, while fellow amateurs Nizar Bourehim and Abderrahmane Fakori will make their Inter-national Series debuts. Bourehim arrives as the winner of The Hrnčiar Championship, where Fakori recorded an impressive eighth-place finish.
The regional representation extends beyond Morocco, with Faisal Salhab, Othman Almulla, Khalid Attieh, Shergo Al Kurdi and Saud Al Sharif representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The United Arab Emirates will be represented by Ahmad Skaik, while Qatar’s Daniil Sokolov returns to The Interna-tional Series stage. Still only 15 years old, Sokolov made headlines when he competed in his home International Series event as a 13-year-old in 2024.
Their participation forms part of a unique three-week professional golf swing in Morocco, beginning on the Asian Development Tour before progressing through last week’s Asian Tour event at Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, where Sweden’s Charlie Lindh claimed victory.
The journey culminates in Rabat, where local and regional hopefuls will have the opportunity to compete alongside some of the biggest names in world golf on the global stage of The International Series. — internationalseries.com/Zimpapers Sports Hub
