The 25-Year-Old First Played in the Tournament as an Amateur in 2017
- The Hero Indian Open will take place at the DLF Golf & Country Club from March 27–30.
For Dubai-born Indian golfer Rayhan Thomas, the dream of competing in his home open as a professional is set to become reality next month as he tees up at the DP World Tour’s Hero Indian Open, reported gulfnews.com.
Thomas, 25, has confirmed his participation in the tournament, scheduled to take place at the DLF Golf & Country Club in Delhi’s National Capital Region.
A Significant Milestone in His Career
Thomas turned professional last June after spending four years at Oklahoma State University. His place in the Hero Indian Open field was secured following his victory at the Coimbatore Open on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) last season.
Currently competing on the Korn Ferry Tour (KFT), the official feeder circuit to the PGA Tour, Thomas faced initial uncertainty about participating in Gurgaon. However, with a break in the KFT schedule before the American Swing begins, he seized the opportunity to play in India.
“The Indian Open means a lot to me,” Thomas told Gulf News.
“It’s an event I grew up watching and then played as an amateur, so I’m excited to compete as a professional now. Playing your national open carries extra significance, and competing in India among Indian players and fans will be an experience I will cherish, especially as my first one as a pro.”
The Korn Ferry Tour has been great: Thomas
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“I’ve really enjoyed my time so far and am excited for the weeks ahead. Having a full schedule, knowing where I’ll be playing each week, makes things much easier logistically. It’s exciting knowing there is something to work towards, with PGA Tour cards on offer at the end of the season.”
Returning to Familiar Grounds
Thomas shares a special connection with the DLF Golf & Country Club, having played in the DP World Tour’s first-ever staging of the Hero Indian Open in 2017, the year home favorite Shiv Chawrasia triumphed.
Next month, Thomas will return with hopes of following in Chawrasia’s footsteps by becoming the first Indian to win the tournament since 2017.
“I’m excited to be back in India to play again, and hopefully, we can make it as successful as last time,” he said.
A Breakthrough Year in Professional Golf
The past year has been eventful for the young golfer. In just his second professional start, Thomas finished eighth at the International Series Morocco, a tournament featuring several LIV Golf stalwarts. Shortly afterward, he celebrated his maiden professional victory at the Coimbatore Open.
Despite narrowly missing out on a DP World Tour card—finishing tied for 30th at Qualifying School, just outside the top 20 cutoff—Thomas demonstrated resilience. A month later, he rebounded impressively at the Final Stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying School, tying for 26th to secure at least 12 starts on this season’s Korn Ferry Tour.
So far, he has made an impressive start to his KFT campaign. Of the four events he has entered, Thomas has placed in the top 30 three times, with a standout seventh-place finish in the Bahamas. These results have positioned him 26th in the season-long standings, as he aims for a top-20 finish to secure a PGA Tour card.
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