Just hours after securing his first professional title at the KGiSL Presents Coimbatore Open in India, Dubai-born golfer Rayhan Thomas recognized the profound influence of growing up in Dubai on his golf career. He also reminisced about his time at Oklahoma State University (OSU), where he refined his skills on a golf scholarship, and the pivotal role his Uncle played as his caddy during the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) tournament.
"I owe a lot to my uncle Thomas – he was by my side throughout the week. After finishing the last hole, I just wanted to hug him – I was thrilled for both of us," Rayhan expressed. He also highlighted the significance of his college golf experience in the United States, stating, "Playing college golf in the US prepared me well for the professional level. The pressure in US college golf is intense because your score significantly impacts the team."
Rayhan Thomas's golf journey is an inspiring tale of growth, resilience, and triumph. Growing up in Dubai, he had access to top-notch golf facilities, which undoubtedly contributed to his skill development. His exposure to these elite courses and the competitive UAE golf scene laid a solid foundation.
"Dubai has been instrumental as I’ve had access to some of the best golfing facilities there," he noted. "Returning to my home country India feels like a full circle in my career." This reflects his commitment and the opportunities he embraced along the way.
From a budding talent in Dubai to an emerging star on the global stage, Rayhan’s journey is a testament to the fact that hard work, coupled with the right environment, can lead to remarkable achievements in the sport.
Rayhan’s golf journey began with a gift from his aunt, which led him to join the CHIII Performance Golf Academy. This ignited his passion, and he quickly excelled in the local scene. During his distinguished amateur career, he represented Dubai Creek in numerous amateur victories, particularly in the UAE through the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) calendar. At 16, he became the first amateur to win on the MENA Tour at the Dubai Creek Open.
He also claimed the Scottish Boy’s Strokeplay Championship in 2016 at Lanark Golf Club. At 17, Rayhan matched a world record with nine consecutive birdies at Dubai Creek on the MENA Tour, before finishing as runner-up in the prestigious Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in 2018.
For the past five years, he has been at Oklahoma State University (OSU) on a golf scholarship and turned professional on June 1, 2024. He won the Grier Jones Shocker Invitational at college, which led him to the Korn Ferry Tour event in Kansas, where he made the cut.
Rayhan was invited to play in the International Series Morocco on the Asian Tour, where he finished tied eighth. He then received an invite to play in the International Series England at Foxhills, where he narrowly missed the cut by one shot. He then traveled to India for the recent PGTI event.
On Sunday, he participated in the Pro-Am of the Coimbatore Open, followed by a trip to Bangalore to spend a few days with his extended family. Rayhan’s father, John, who has lived in Dubai since 1993 and manages an oil and gas contracting firm, expressed his excitement to Khaleej Times: "We are thrilled with Rayhan’s performance, especially since turning professional. This win came sooner than expected, and he is on the right track."
One of Rayhan’s standout qualities is his composure in challenging situations, whether he is in contention or not performing well. His strength of character was evident last year when he injured his hand, requiring surgery. He remained patient and learned from the experience.
"We look forward to welcoming him back to Dubai later this week," added Rayhan’s father. "The excitement around his win has been overwhelming. He is already receiving invitations to tournaments and professional events worldwide. We will discuss his schedule for the rest of 2024 with his management team." He concluded.
Career milestones include his first victory on a professional tour, gaining status on the PGTI, being the second player to win on the PGTI in his first appearance, joining Dubai Golden Visa Awardee Gaganjeet Bhullar as a winner on the PGTI, and receiving a winner’s cheque for around Dhs 65,700. He also earned more Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, moving from 2,793rd to 1,535th position.
The updated results following Rayhan Thomas's win will be released on Monday morning, once all global golf tour tournaments have concluded and the data is compiled. The tournament's projected points were 5.35906.
