Dubai-born sensation Rayhan Thomas has urged the next wave of UAE-based talent heading to the U.S. collegiate circuit to “be like a sponge”.
The Indian golfer, who was one of the stars of the UAE circuit, has recently turned professional after spending five years at Oklahoma State University (OSU) on a golf scholarship.
With several UAE residents following in Thomas’ footsteps by heading to the States this summer, the 24-year-old shared some words of wisdom on what he has learned over the last five years.
“Be like a sponge,” said Thomas when we spoke on a Zoom call ahead of turning professional.
“Just try and absorb and learn as much as you can. Take the bits that you like and throw away the bits that you don’t.
“Use college as a way to kind of figure out what type of person you and what type of golfer you want to be. Try and do the same thing every day.”
Jamie Camero and Lara El Chaib, both UAE National Team players, have secured golf scholarships at the University of Central Florida and Jacksonville State University respectively.
Dubai resident Dominic Morton heads to Odessa University on a golf scholarship, while Hannah Chery Alan, who moved to the UAE when she was six months old, will join Kennesaw State University this summer, also on a golf scholarship.
For Thomas, he now hopes to forge a similar career path to that of his fellow Cowboy Golf alumni Viktor Hovland, Matthew Wolff and Rickie Fowler, who have all enjoyed success on the PGA Tour.
The former Dubai resident is currently playing the PGA Tour Americas Qualifying School in a bid to secure some starts on the feeder circuit to the Korn Ferry Tour.
He will make his own debut on the Korn Ferry Tour later this month when he competes at the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open after securing an invite thanks to a collegiate victory in Kanas last year.
