Dubai-born sensation Rayhan Thomas would rather go down the route of playing on the DP World Tour rather than the Korn Ferry Tour should he earn playing privileges into both Tours through Qualifying School.
The 24-year-old has made a fine start to his professional career since turning pro on June 1, banking a top ten at the Asian Tour’s International Series Morocco before picking up his first pro victory at the Professional Golf Tour of India’s (PGTI) Coimbatore Open.
That victory in Chettipalayam, India saw him secure playing opportunities on the PGTI for next season, but Thomas has his sights set on bigger and better things.
On September 17 he will begin his quest to secure a DP World Tour card via the Tour’s First Stage of Qualifying School, where only around the top 15-20 will qualify for the Second Stage in Spain.
Should he then play his way into the Final Stage, Thomas will be one of 156 playing competing over gruelling six rounds for the chance to play on the 2025 Race to Dubai schedule.
Each player will play two rounds at the Lakes Course and the Hills Course at INFINITUM, before the top 65 and ties play the final two rounds at the Lakes Course.
After six rounds, the leading 20 players and ties will earn DP World Tour playing privileges for 2025.
As well as trying to earn his stripes on golf’s Global Circuit, Thomas will also head back to America, where he spent the last four years at the University of Oklahoma, to try and secure a PGA Tour card.
Should he make the Final Stage at Dye’s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass, as well as Sawgrass Country Club, he will have the opportunity to cement a PGA Tour card, which would see him play with the likes of Rory McIlory and Scottie Scheffler on a weekly basis.
The top five finishers and ties at Final Stage will earn PGA Tour cards for the 2025 season, while the next 40 finishers and ties at Final Stage will earn exempt status through multiple reshuffles of the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour season.
All remaining finishers at Final Stage earn conditional status for the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour season, in addition to being exempt through the Latin America Swing of the 2025 PGA TOUR Americas season.
While the PGA Tour card is the ultimate goal, Thomas admits he has more chance of securing Korn Ferry status or membership on the DP World Tour, with the latter taking priority should he earn both.
“I’d probably pick the DP World Tour card,” said Thomas when we met for a chat at Emirates Golf Club.
“The money is a little bit better and there’s better opportunities on there. With the top ten players, not already exempt, on the Race to Dubai Rankings now securing PGA Tour status, it would give me segway of reaching that.
“When I was maybe nine, ten years old, the DP World Tour was the Tour you wanted to play on. It’s become a bit of a feeder Tour to the PGA Tour in recent years, but that gives players a great opportunity.”
Depending on how Thomas does in Europe and the States will decide if he is to give Asian Tour Qualifying School a shot in January. For now, it is up in the air, but he could well return to Asian Tour action in October at the international Series Thailand if he is to receive an invitation.
