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Rayhan Thomas and Rory McIlroy played the mutual appreciation game after nine practice holes on the Majlis Tuesday, though one was understandably a little more awestruck than the other.

For 18-year-old Dubai amateur Thomas the chance to “play with one of your heroes is just off the wall, an unbelievable experience.”

“To watch how calm and collected he was, how precise he was in all his planning was just superb, to watch that ball flight which was something else,” said the world amateur No.20. “To do that, to be around a guy like him, play nine holes with my idol, it’s a great start to the week and I can’t wait to see what else the week has for me.”

McIlroy was suitably impressed with the MENA Tour star who made his first European Tour cut here last year.

“He’s got a very good swing. He does everything the right way,” the former world No.1 said.

“I think if I was to say anything about Rayhan’s game, if he could get another 10 yards off the tee, it would help him just get to that next level. Because obviously going from playing amateur tournaments to the pro game where you’re regularly seeing golf courses now that are 7500, 7600 yards, length is a big asset. I feel it’s quite easy to do. I’ve put on quite a lot of length since I was that age until now. If he does it the right way, I think that would be a big asset.”