By Rahul Banerji
Rayhan Thomas, India’s highest-ever ranked player in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, at 17th is upbeat ahead of his foray into the 2019 Hero Indian Open here next week.
The 18-year-old Dubai based Thomas feels that he is ready for a solid performance before he moves to the US for collegiate golf.
“I have played the event before, and feel that my game is in the right place to do well,” said Thomas, praised by the likes of Rickie Fowler and Rory McIlroy, who have played with him at the Dubai Desert Classic in recent years.
Thomas has been handed one of the amateur spots at the 55th edition of the national Open.
Solid credentials
Thomas, who was ranked as high as no. 12 in the world, was also a silver medallist at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championships in Singapore last year.
“That performance and playing with pros in events in the Middle East and the Mena Tour has given me immense confidence,” he said.
Thomas joins a star-studded group of amateurs at Oklahoma State University this season. Two of his new teammates are in the top-5 as of this week, including Viktor Hovland at no. 2 and Matthew Wolff at third, while Austin Eckroat is 24th.
In-form Jazz hopes for better
Meanwhile, Asian Tour Merit leader Jazz Janewattananond hopes to get lucky in his third attempt at tackling the challenging DLF Golf and Country Club when he heads to the Hero Indian Open next week.
The 23-year-old Thai has been on a tear of late and claimed his third Asian Tour title at the season-opener in Singapore in January. He has also finished inside the top-10 on six other occasions in his last nine starts on the Asian Tour and is currently ripping up the field at the ongoing Maybank Classic in Kuala Lumpur.
On a roll in Malaysia, the young Thai sits second on the Maybank leader-board after three impressive days,
Strong contingent
Jazz will spearhead the strong Thai challenge alongside Tour winners Poom Saksansin, Tirawat Kaewsiribandit, Panuphol Pittayarat and veteran Prayad Marksaeng at the $1.75 million Hero Indian Open.
Jazz, who sits atop the current Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity standings, came in tied-34th in his first attempt at the DLF Golf and Country Club when he played the Hero Indian Open in 2017 before missing the cut last year.
“It’s a tough course, everyone knows that. It’s a beast, very narrow and tough, so I’ll be happy to even just make the cut this time,” said Jazz, whose best finish at the event came in 2016 where he finished tied-15th on a different course.
Masters’ chance
Placed 78th in the latest Official World Golf Ranking, Jazz stands an outside chance to qualify for The Masters next month. The talented Thai needs to break into the world’s top-50 following the Indian Open next week.
He could also earn an invite to The Masters, just like reigning Order of Merit champion Shubhankar Sharma last year, should he perform well in Malaysia and India.
“My game is a lot different coming into these two weeks so I can’t wait to try and conquer the DLF course this time around. I missed the cut last year but I’m still looking forward to a new challenge next week,” added Jazz.
An elite 156-man field from 28 countries that has more than 40 Tour winners and seven Order of Merit champions, will be vying for top honours at the prestigious Indian Open, which will once again be promoted by the Indian Golf Union, who join the Asian Tour and European Tour in co-sanctioning the tournament.
In ongoing action in the United States, Anirban Lahiri was tied 23rd on 1-under par 141 after two days at the $6.7 million Valspar Championship in Palm Harbour, Florida while Aditi Ashok narrowly missed the cut at the $1.5 million LPGA Founders Cup event in Arizona with a 1-over two-day aggregate.
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