Dubai-based professional golfer Rayhan Thomas has achieved a significant career milestone by securing his advancement to the Final Stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School. The 26-year-old Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club representative demonstrated exceptional composure under pressure at The Landings, Deer Creek course in Savannah, Georgia, finishing with a four-round total of 13-under-par (275) that placed him in a tie for 15th position.
Thomas’s performance throughout the qualifying tournament showcased remarkable mental fortitude and strategic discipline. After posting rounds of 67, 71, and 67, he closed with a steady 70 on the Tom Fazio-designed par-72 layout. His final round proved particularly impressive, featuring 16 pars against only two bogeys while maintaining position exactly on the qualifying threshold throughout the day.
The Dubai-born golfer, who represents his Indian heritage, acknowledged the intense pressure of the qualifying environment. ‘It was a tight squeeze at the end, but it was a huge relief,’ Thomas stated afterward. ‘I hit a lot of greens, did not hole much with my putter, but that is what Qualifying School is all about – surviving and advancing.’
Thomas now progresses to the decisive Final Stage in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, where the 72-hole tournament will be contested across TPC Sawgrass’s Dye’s Valley Course and Sawgrass Country Club from December 11-14. The stakes couldn’t be higher: the top five finishers will receive full PGA Tour playing privileges for the 2026 season, while the next 40 players and ties will secure full Korn Ferry Tour membership.
Supported by sponsors including Hero, Wilson, Cadillac, and Dubai Basketball, Thomas carries substantial momentum into the final qualifying stage. His achievement marks a potential historic breakthrough, as he could become one of the very few golfers from the Middle East region to obtain full PGA Tour status with a top-five finish in Florida.