Dubai: Local golfing prodigy Rayhan Thomas got the dream chance to play nine holes with former world No. 1 and four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy ahead of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on Tuesday.
The 18-year-old Dubai-born Indian amateur is playing in this week’s European Tour event from Thursday as an invitee, having shocked all by making the cut here last year before equalling the world record for the most birdies in a row (nine) at a regional Mena Tour event in Dubai last September.
Tipped for big things, he looked comfortable in the presence of the 28-year-old Northern Irishman.
The pair first met in 2009, when Rayhan was nine, and he got the opportunity along with other local junior prospects to have lunch with the then 19-year-old, who had by then just got the first win of his career at this event.
Since that encounter, McIlroy has gone on to become one of the world’s greatest players — winning the Desert Classic twice, after lifting the Dallah Trophy again in 2015 — and it’s a meteoric rise that Rayhan would surely love to follow.
Tuesday’s reunion was a chance therefore for Rayhan to get some more tips from Rory to set him up for another good week over the Majlis Course. “It was special, he’s a good guy and I’ve looked up to him for a long time, so to play nine holes with him was awesome,” he said.
“I had lunch with him nine years ago when I was lucky enough to be one of the local juniors chosen to meet him. It’s always pretty special to meet up with him again.
“He gave me a little bit of advice on course management and equipment and small things to watch out for while standing over the ball, but just watching him play and watching that ball fly was an education in itself.”
Rory said of Rayhan: “I’ve heard of him for quite a while now, obviously while I’ve been practising here over the years everyone’s been talking about this little Indian kid who has got a really bright future.
“To see how he’s progressed, he’s a great player and does all the right things, he practises hard and works on the right things and he’s got a good attitude towards it, so it’s good to see him get opportunities like this.
“I’ll always try to play practice rounds with some of the guys coming through because I don’t feel like it was that long ago that the guys were doing the same for me, and I feel like it helped me a lot.
“I’ve always had time for him because he’s a really nice kid and he’ll do well, he’s got the right attitude and that’s the most important thing. You see loads of kids with a lot of talent and they can do a lot but if they don’t have the right attitude or work ethic it can only take you so far, but he’s got his head screwed on and has also been brought up right, and that will serve him well.
“His game is in good shape and he knows this place very well. As long as he doesn’t put himself under too much pressure and just goes out and enjoys it, and plays his game, he should do fine.”
Rayhan echoed those sentiments about the week ahead.
“I’ve no expectations, I’ll just see what happens, I’ll play the way I know I can and hopefully making the cut again will be the least of my worries.
“I love this course, I always love coming back to play here, it’s a fun track and plays great.”
