Thrissur: Golf, as a sport, remains largely unpopular and stands far behind other disciplines like football and cricket in Kerala. However, there is a young Malayalee golfer who has made his mark in the world of professional golf. Rayhan John Thomas, who won the third edition of the Coimbatore Open organised by the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) recently, has been making waves in the amateur and professional golfing world.

The 24-year-old Rayhan, whose family is from Kottayam, is the first Malayalee to win a PGTI tournament. In the process, he has also become the second player to win in his maiden PGTI appearance. Thai golfer Pariya Junhasavasdikul was the first to achieve the feat when he won the year-end Tour Championship in 2016 on debut.

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Rayhan's father John Thomas is the chief operating officer of PMO Global, an oil, gas and marine company based in Dubai, while his mother Neena is a homemaker. Born and brought up in Dubai, Rayhan took up golf at an early age. Initially, he underwent training at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club and the Butch Harmon School of Golf. As an amateur golfer, he has won several titles at regional competitions, including the Dubai Creek Championship, Emirates Amateur Championship, Qatar Amateur Open, and the Al Ain Open.

Rayhan, who represented India at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, is also the first amateur golfer to win the Middle East and North Africa Golf Tour. In the same year, he finished second at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.

Rayhan, who recently completed an undergraduate degree programme from the Oklahoma State University in the US, is committed, fully, to a professional career and is now aiming at making the cut on the PGA (Professional Golfers' Association of America) Tour.

Excerpts from an interview given to Manorama:
You are only the second player to be crowned champion on the PGTI debut. How do you feel?
With this win, the trajectory of my golfing career has come a full circle. I feel proud and happy. Winning the PGTI title is a great achievement. I dedicate this win to my family.

What was your game plan in Coimbatore?
I stayed calm and stuck to the plan. I played to my strengths and focussed on my 'birdie', which signifies scoring one stroke less than par. The strategy proved to be effective in the end. I think I played really well throughout the tournament. I was confident on the final day.

How can India be a major country in golf?
The advanced facilities in Dubai have played a vital role in shaping my career. India too needs to invest heavily in developing state-of-the-art golf courses and allied facilities apart from having good trainers. The country has a vast pool of young talents. The authorities need to support and groom them to compete at the highest level.

How critical is your family's support in pursuing a career in golf?
My sister Shasha John and paternal uncle T T Thomas were with me in Coimbatore. I fell in love with golf at the age of nine after watching my father playing the sport.

What are your future plans?
Training and playing in the US has helped me prepare for the next level. Professional golf can be extremely stressful. When you are part of a team, you are always under pressure to perform well. I want to pursue a successful career in golf and earn a promotion to the PGA Tour. 

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