Dubai-born Rayhan Thomas (right) receives his Dubai Golden Visa
Another player for Indian fans to watch out for is Dubai-born-and-bred Indian golfer Rayhan Thomas, who turned professional in June 2024 and ended his year earning Korn Ferry Tour playing rights. At the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament’s Final Stage in December, Rayhan, who played four years of NCAA college golf at the famed Oklahoma State University, finished T26 and secured at least 12 starts on the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour, which can open doors for bigger things, including the PGA Tour.
Reflecting on his achievements, Thomas shared his outlook: “There will be a re-rank reshuffle after every four events on the Korn Ferry Tour, so I’ll be part of three initial reshuffles. With a strong start, I hope to secure additional playing opportunities. A planned and structured schedule is all I can ask for.” His focus is clear—to finish in the top 25 on the Korn Ferry rankings and earn a place on the coveted PGA Tour.
Rayhan is set to make his Korn Ferry Tour debut with three consecutive tournaments in the Bahamas in January.
This will not be Rayhan’s first time competing on the Korn Ferry Tour. Earlier in 2024, he played the Kansas Wichita Open in June, having earned a spot through his victory at a college tournament, shooting rounds of 72-64-67-73 for a four-under-par total of 276, earning his first professional paycheck of $3,900.
Before diving into his grueling 2025 campaign, Rayhan took some time to reflect and recharge in Dubai, spending time with his family and preparing for the challenges ahead. His days were a mix of intensive practice and casual social golf on Dubai’s world-class courses, staying sharp while also savoring the city he calls home.
Rayhan’s strong ties to Dubai were further solidified in 2024 when he was awarded the prestigious UAE Golden Visa, an honor given to individuals of exceptional merit in their fields. The visa recognises his achievements and contributions to UAE sports, further cementing his role as a key ambassador for UAE golf on the international stage.
Indian golfers can follow Rayhan’s progress on the Korn Ferry Tour since there is no Indian player on the PGA Tour aside from the American born players of Indian descent – Sahith Theegala, Akshay Bhatia, and Aaron Rai, who all have enjoyed record-breaking 2024 seasons in America.
