Making The Cut

Rayhan Thomas, of Malayali origin, who equalled a world record of hitting nine birdies in a row, is steadily making a mark on the international amateur golfing stage

By Shevlin Sebastian

At the Middle East Golf Awards, at Dubai, recently, where Rayhan Thomas won the Amateur Order of Merit, the compere said, tongue-in-cheek, “Has anybody offered you any money?” Without missing a beat, a smiling Rayhan says, “There have been a couple of bribes here and there, but I am trying not to take it.”

Rayhan exudes a cool confidence even when the questions are unexpected. And the 17-year-old took this confidence into the highly competitive US Amateur matchplay golf championships held at Kansas in July this year. Eventually, he came third, after losing to eventual winner Noah Goodwin in the semi-finals.

In the process, Rayhan became the first Indian to reach the semi-finals. “To finish in the Top 3 means a lot,” says Rayhan. Incidentally, previous winners include former world No. 1 Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth. Last year, Rayhan also became the first amateur to win on the MENA (Middle East & North Africa) tour.

The achievements continued. During the Dubai Open, in September, Rayhan equalled a world record, when he hit a stunning nine birdies in a row (a birdie is one stroke less than the designated number to complete a hole). The record was first set by American Mark Calcavecchia at the 2009 RBC Canadian Open.“When I hit the first two birdies, I felt this was going to be my day,” said Rayhan. “I’m very happy with my performance.”

And this dream career began very accidentally. One day, when Rayhan was eight years old, his father gave him a club and the boy played his first strokes at a store called Golf House. “I was immediately attracted,” he says. “There is such a nice feeling when the club hits the ball.”

Seeing their son's interest, his parents John and Neena enrolled him at the Butch Harmon School of Golf in Dubai (Butch is a former coach of Tiger Woods). And Rayhan began to get better and better.

But when he was fifteen years old, the family made a fateful decision. Rayhan was taken out of the St. Mary's Catholic High School and joined an online school academy.

And John has a simple explanation for this. “If you want to become a professional player, at any level, you have to give it 100 per cent,” he says. “The number of hours you have to put in practice is way beyond your normal school time.”

Indeed, this is true. On any given weekday, Rayhan gets up at 5.30 a.m., and goes for a hour-long walk. Then he returns, has his breakfast and heads to the Butch Harmon School at 8.30 a.m. He does training under the supervision of Justin Parsons, the director of instruction. “Justin is one of the best coaches in the region,” says Rayhan. “He points out my errors and I work hard to correct them.”

Rayhan returns at 1.30 p.m. Following lunch, and a brief rest, at 3 p.m., Rayhan starts his online studies, with occasional help from his mother, and finishes at 7 p.m. Thereafter, he relaxes by watching TV.

In his spare time, he is learning to do meditation. “The mental aspect plays a big role in golf,” says Rayhan, “There are a lot of matchplay events in amateur golf, where we are playing one on one. You need mental strength to overcome your opponent.”

Meanwhile, John, a Chief Operating Officer of a oil, gas, and marine company, based in the United Arab Emirates, does admit that the expenses are steep. However, the equipment is being sponsored by Titleist and the clothes and shoes by Footjoy. “Since Rayhan is India's No 1 amateur, the Indian Golf Union has agreed to provide some sponsorship,” says John, who is from Kottayam, Kerala. “So that will help.”

And so, Rayhan, with his obvious talent and calm temperament, is all set to become India's version of Tiger Woods. 

(Sunday Magazine, The New Indian Express, South India and Delhi)