Rayhan Thomas, the Dubai-based amateur, shot a second-round 75 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Friday to finish three-over for the tournament and narrowly miss the cut. He spoke to the media afterwards.
Back-nine troubles
Thomas, who last year became the first amateur and youngest player to win on the Mena Tour, at age 16, was aiming to follow up a strong opening-round 72 and was level par going into the back nine. However, successive bogeys on his 14th and 15th holes knocked him off track, while he dropped another shot on the last.
Reflecting on the day
“I’m OK, a bit tired but still pretty happy with it,” said Thomas, 17. “It was going pretty steady initially, then on the fifth hole I blocked my drive right and had to take an unplayable. And then on six, I pulled it left and had to chip out, so two bogeys back-to back killed me on the back nine. And then on the next few holes I was just standing up, trying to keep it somewhere in play.”
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Much to look forward to though
"I was pretty close, but a bit disappointed," said Thomas, who has qualified for next month's Omega Dubai Desert Classic after finishing the 2016 Mena Tour as its leading amateur. "But I can't complain, had a great tournament, learnt a lot, played with some great players. It gives me a lot of confidence, gives me a little something to work on. Just need to work on keeping it straighter off the tee and it should be good for Dubai."
Some time to iron out any kinks
“It’s good to have that week break to recuperate and get my head straight,” Thomas said. “Right now my head’s going to be all over the place, a bit disappointed. So just get my confidence back a bit and get ready for Dubai; talk to both my coaches and my parents and see what we have to do better. This is my second European Tour event, I’ve got my third coming up in two weeks, so getting closer and closer. So yeah, I can’t complain.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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