With just three bogeys in four days on a difficult golf course, Taichi Kho added yet another feather to his cap when he secured his first International Series event and won the second title on the Asian Tour at the US$2 million International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco.
Kho, the 25-year-old who made history for Hong Kong by winning its first-ever gold medal in golf at the Hangzhou Games in 2023, was four-under par through 10 holes with five birdies to take sole possession of the lead, but struggled to find the sixth that would have given him the breathing space.
That birdie finally came when it was needed most – on the par-5 18th hole.
Overnight leader and two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson (70), who was level with Kho after making a birdie from the bunker on the 17th hole, pulled his second shot from the fairway towards the LED screen, and could not make his up-and-down from there.
Kho finished on 19-under par total to get his hands on the US$360,000 winning cheque, which elevates him to No2 in the Asian Tour Order of Merit behind Australia’s Travis Smyth, and to No3 in The International Series Ranking.
Final standings from the International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco 📊🇲🇦https://t.co/QQChqRqIrM @intseriesgolf pic.twitter.com/OVQNsd7xPc
— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) June 14, 2026
It also helped him get over the pain of losing in a playoff on the Japan Golf Tour in the previous week. No wonder Kho was misty eyed and emotional after the win.
The Thai duo of Suteepat Prateeptienchai (69) and Jazz Janewattananond (72) were tied third at -15. It could have been even better, but Suteepat made a bogey-bogey finish, and Jazz dropped a shot on the last.
Australian Elvis Smylie, winner of LIV Golf Riyadh earlier this year, made six birdies in his last seven holes for a 66 to join South Africa’s in-form Ian Snyman (67), Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent (67) and Japan’s Takanori Konishi (71) in tied fifth place at 14-under.
'A DREAM COME TRUE'
“It’s been a long year. It’s had a lot of hardships and a bit of adversity. Through it all, I think I really grew as a person. I realised the work I put in surpasses any results,” said Kho.
“Golf’s a funny game. It really gives and takes, and I was very fortunate the last couple of weeks to be on the good side of it. I have a lot of gratitude towards the game itself, the people around me, the people who make it possible.”
The comeback is complete 🏆🇲🇦@taichikho’s resurgence ends with the silverware in Morocco 😍 pic.twitter.com/V4IiE5GZIM
— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) June 14, 2026
While winning the title was a massive high for Kho, the fact that he also beat one of his childhood heroes in the process added to the joy.
“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,” said Kho, who said he did not think of the victory until he birdied the last hole.
“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.”
Despite missing out on his first title since the 2018 Travelers Championship, Watson was delighted with his efforts the whole week, and complimentary of Kho.
“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. It shows the game of golf is in a great spot, and it was fun to watch how well he played today,” said the 47-year-old Captain of the RangeGoats GC on LIV Golf.
“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.”
Jazz, champion of the inaugural International Series Morocco in November 2022 but searching for his first win since then, was disappointed with a bogey from the fairway bunker on the last hole that denied him a solo third-place finish.
“I made too many mistakes today. Last hole stung a little bit, because I lost a lot of money on the last hole, but it is what it is, you know. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose,” said the Thai star, winner of the 2019 Asian Tour Order of Merit crown.
“I think the game is close. The momentum needs to be better. Swing and everything else is on the right track. So, excited to see what I have for the rest of the year. My goal for this year is to win more than once, because it’s close. I can feel it. I just need a little bit more momentum. I need to learn how to win again, and then once I get it done, I think the second one should be easier.”
International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco ends a three-week stay for Asian Tour in Morocco.
The Tour now takes a break and returns for the Yeangder Taiwan Open in September.
Final standings from the International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco 📊🇲🇦https://t.co/QQChqRqIrM @intseriesgolf pic.twitter.com/OVQNsd7xPc
— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) June 14, 2026
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