By Kent Gray
Former Open champion Darren Clarke has called for a cooling of expectations around Rayhan Thomas even as the Dubai teen goes about being the involuntary poster boy of Middle East golf with aplomb.
This time a year ago Thomas was the 1050th ranked amateur in the world but an historic victory in his home Dubai Creek Open sparked a memorable run of form that sees the 17-year-old return to defend the MENA Tour title 1000 places better off in 50th on the warg.com list.
Thomas is understandably bullish about his defence given his intimate knowledge of Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and his giddy run of form leading into the $50,000 event, including making his maiden professional tournament cut at February’s Dubai Desert Classic and a charge to the semifinals of the recent U.S. Junior Amateur.
Those results helped the correspondence-schooled Indian, who doesn’t turn 18 until November, seal the No.1 spot in Trevor Immelman’s International team for the inaugural Junior Presidents Cup later this month. It has also centred attention on the teen as he prepares to tee it up with Clarke in the first round of the 54-holer at 11.10am on Monday. Not that Thomas seemed overly phased as he joined the 2016 Ryder Cup captain for a preview press conference on Sunday.
“For sure I know this course like the back of my hand and I guess when you’ve done it once, it’s a little more comfortable situation,” Thomas said of his title defence. “Yeah, I think my chances are very good, I’m playing very well…we’ll see Wednesday.”
Related content: Rayhan Thomas can’t lose at Junior Presidents Cup
The measured confidence wasn’t lost on Clarke who, as patron of the MENA Tour, has watched Thomas’ progress closely. The DCGYC member coincidently finished leading amateur in the Clarke’s only other start on the development circuit at the 2015 RAK Classic.
“I think we all know where his game could be headed. Rayhan’s obviously a very special talent,” said Clarke who will also be partnered with Swede Fredrik From, the winner of tour’s weather-curtailed Pattana Golf Championship in May, in Monday’s opening round.
Rayhan Thomas, tournament director Robbie Williams, Darren Clarke and Dubai Golf’s Christopher May pose ahead of Monday’s Dubai Creek Open.
“To win here last year as he did, it’s not that easy for amateurs to win any professional tournament, I don’t care where you are in the world, that’s another marker in his career.”
But as Thomas’ ranking has plummeted, Clarke has seen expectations soar and has urged for patience as he serves his amateur apprenticeship.
“I know his coach, Justin Parsons, really, really well and I know he’s really excited with that Rayhan is achieving as well but you know, with what he has achieved and the way he is going, it’s very easy to heap pressure on him, you’re going to do this and you’re going to do that.
“Rayhan is still a young man and has a huge future so if things don’t quite go as well for him for a week or two, he just has to go practice and keep working on what he’s doing.
“You’ve got some of the best facilities in the world here and Rayhan has made the most of them. His progress is what you’d expect from a man of his talent. I’m sure he’ll enjoy the Junior Presidents Cup, looking for bigger and better things and it’s a stepping-stone to the bigger Presidents Cup.”
Thomas, Clarke and From are off at 11.10am. With reigning order of merit leader Jamie Elson playing at the first stage of European Tour school in Scotland and second-placed Luke Joy teeing it up in the KLM Dutch Open, it is a big week for Englishman Andrew Marshall.
Related content: Elson has his eyes on the prize
Off at 11.40am alongside countryman Lee Corfield and Joshua White, Marshall is third on the OOM (just ahead of From) and will be looking to make up ground in the absence of Elson and Joy.
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2017 MENA Tour – Post summer schedule
Sept 11-13: The Dubai Creek Open
Venue: at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. Purse: US$50,000
Sept 18-20: The Golf Citizen Classic
Venue: Els Club Dubai. Purse: US$30,000
Sept 25-27: The Golf Citizen Abu Dhabi Open
Venue: Yas Links GC. Purse: US$50,000
Oct 5-7: Jordan’s Ayla Golf Championship
Venue: Ayla Golf Resort (Aqaba). Purse: US$50,000
Oct 16-18: The Sahara Kuwait Golf Championship
Venue: Sahara Golf & County Club. Purse: US$50,000
Oct 23-26: The MENA Tour Championship
Venue: Al Zorah GC (Ajman). Purse: $100,000
Completed events
March 6-9: 2017 Qualifying School, El Jadida Golf Club, Morocco
Winner – Jack Doherty (SCO)
March 14-16: Palmeraie Country Club Casablanca Open
Winner – Leo Lilja (SPN)
March 19-21: Royal Golf Mohammedia Open
Winner – Pierre Junior Verlaar (NED/Amateur)
April 24-26: Ras Al Khaimah Classic
Winner – Peter Stojanovski (AUS)
Thailand Swing
May 2-4: Mahasamutr Masters
Winner – Jazz Janewattananond (THAI)
May 8-10: Mountain Creek Open by Golf Citizen
Winner – Lionel Weber (FRA)
May 16-19: Pattana Golf Championship*
Winner – Fredrik From (SWE)
South African Swing
June 7-9: South to East Challenge
Winner – Breyten Meyer (RSA)
June 13-15: Jo’burg City Masters
Winner – Jaco Prinsloo (RSA)
June 20-22: The Roar
Winner – Daniel Hammond (RSA)
*72-hole event reduced to 36 holes due to inclement weather
