Dubai-born professional golfer Rayhan Thomas arrives at this week’s Panama Championship with renewed determination to accelerate his pursuit of a PGA Tour card. The Korn Ferry Tour event at Club de Golf de Panama represents a critical opportunity for Thomas to build momentum following his recent reclaiming of tour status.
Thomas, who plays out of Dubai Creek Resort and was raised in the UAE to Indian parents, currently holds the 62nd position on the season-long points list. His early-season performance included a disappointing missed cut during the Bahamas swing, where challenging windy conditions and putting difficulties hampered his performance despite solid ball-striking.
The Panama venue offers familiar ground for Thomas, who competed in the same event last year. This familiarity provides a strategic advantage as he seeks to refine his game under more conventional tournament conditions than the unusual Sunday-to-Wednesday format encountered in earlier events.
The competitive intensity of the Korn Ferry Tour has been underscored by recent performances, notably 18-year-old Blades Brown’s remarkable transition from a tied-17th Korn Ferry finish to nearly contending at The American Express PGA Tour event. These developments highlight the narrow margins separating success from disappointment on golf’s premier developmental tour.
With the 2026 season offering only 20 PGA Tour cards compared to 30 previously, the stakes have significantly increased. Thomas approaches the Panama Championship not as a casual event but as a strategic opportunity to accumulate points and position himself for the rigorous qualification process ahead.