Dubai-born golfer Rayhan Thomas has shown great excitement about the opportunity to compete alongside some of the top players on the Asian Tour, following his invitation to participate in the upcoming $2 million International Series England tournament. The high-profile event, which has drawn several elite players from Dubai, is scheduled to take place at the Foxhills Golf Club in Surrey, England, from August 8th to 11th.
"I was invited by Rahul Singh from the Asian Tour just yesterday," Rayhan shared with Khaleej Times. "This gives me a goal to work towards, and I am eager to return to such a high level of competition. I haven't played at Foxhills before, but I plan to practice and prepare here in Dubai in the coming days before heading to England. I'm grateful to Rahul and the entire Asian Tour for their support."
"The International Series events on the Asian Tour are fantastic opportunities. They feature outstanding fields, and this invitation allows me to compete against some of the best players. I'm really looking forward to it," he added. Rayhan, a 24-year-old newcomer to the professional golf circuit, made an impressive debut last month with a tied eighth finish at the prestigious International Series Morocco tournament. He is currently in Dubai, managing his visa and spending time with his family.
The tournament is attracting a robust international lineup, including participants from the DP World Tour and LIV Golf, along with a strong contingent from the Asian Tour. Notable entries include Richard Bland (Eng), Sam Horsfield (Eng), Thomas Pieters (Bel), Andy Sullivan (Eng), Ian Poulter (Eng), Graeme McDowell (NI), Branden Grace (RSA), the current leader of the Asian Tour's International Series Order of Merit John Catlin (US), Harold Varner III (US), and Jason Kokrak (US). They will be joined by Dubai-based players Anirban Lahiri (Ind), Shiv Kapur (Ind), and Dubai Golden Visa holders Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind) and Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind).
This marks the fourth International Series event on the Asian Tour this season, following previous tournaments in Oman, Macau, and Morocco. The winner of the Asian Tour's International Series Order of Merit 2024 will secure a spot in the LIV Golf League in 2025. Rayhan currently ranks tied 32nd with 39.48 points, based on his performance in Morocco. Andy Ogletree (US), the 2023 International Series Order of Merit winner and the previous winner of the England event at Close House, is now a member of the all-American HyFlyers GC team on LIV Golf, led by Phil Mickelson alongside Brendan Steele and Cameron Tringale.
