Ponte Vedra, Florida, USA, 17-12-2024

Rayhan Thomas secures 2025 Korn Ferry Tour Card with top-notch performance at PGA Tour Q School in Florida

India's Rayhan Thomas came up with a top-notch performance at the Final Stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying School in Florida to secure a tied 26th finish which earned him a card on the Korn Ferry Tour for 2025.

Thomas, 25, posted rounds of 70, 72, 71, and 68 to finish one-over par in the tournament, which was played across two golf courses in Ponte Vedra, Florida: 36 holes at Sawgrass Country Club and 36 holes at TPC Sawgrass, Dye’s Valley.

Needing a low score to climb the Q-School leaderboard, Thomas began his final round at Dye’s Valley with birdies on the first two holes. Although he followed with a bogey on the third, he quickly recovered—a hallmark of his game since turning professional in June this year—with another birdie on the seventh, making the turn in 33.

An impressive back-nine of steady golf, consisting of nine pars, saw him finish with a solid 35 to card a two-under 68.

After officials informed him of his 2025 Korn Ferry Tour status, Thomas shared his thoughts with Khaleej Times.

“Today was my best round of the week, I played really solid,” he said. “It was a pretty steady round, I felt I was unwavering with my game, for the most part. I was not stressed out at all and felt in my comfort zone. I felt I had fun all week.

“I am so excited and, I understand, this will give me a guaranteed minimum of 12 Korn Ferry Tour starts for 2025,” Thomas added.

“I will now come home to Dubai to chill out with my family and friends for Christmas and then head back to the US at the start of January to begin my Korn Ferry Tour 2025 season and career. I am pleased with how the week rolled out and I cannot wait to get started in a few weeks.”

American Lanto Griffin won by three shots after finishing on nine-under par with rounds of 67, 72, 69 and 63.

The top five and ties cut off for PGA Tour Cards fell at four-under par with six players making the promotion. The next 40 players and ties earn their Korn Ferry Tour Membership.

Thomas’s success didn’t come overnight. He began his Qualifying School journey in October at the First Stage at Wilderness Country Club in Nebraska, where he posted impressive rounds of 68, 66, 71 and 70 to finish at nine-under 275, securing a tied 13th place finish and advancing to the Second Stage. In November, he continued his strong performance at The Landings – Deer Creek in Savannah, Georgia, carding rounds of 68, 68, 71 and 68 for a tied 12th place finish and a spot in the Final Stage.

Earlier in June, Thomas made his professional debut on the Korn Ferry Tour on sponsor invite at the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open. He showed flashes of brilliance with rounds of 72, 64, 67 and 73, finishing tied-68th at four-under 276. He later received invitation for the International Series Morocco, where he registered a tied-8th finish, earning him an exemption for the International Series England, though he missed the cut. Undeterred, Thomas travelled to India, where he claimed his first professional title at the Coimbatore Open in August, making a resounding statement in his maiden pro start on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).

In November, Thomas took on the Final Stage of the DP World Tour Qualifying. Over six intense rounds, he carded a 16-under total, finishing 33rd, just two strokes shy of earning full playing rights on the 2025 DP World Tour. Nevertheless, this performance secured his eligibility for the Challenge Tour, Europe’s second-tier professional circuit.

Sources: Khaleej Times & 5amgolf.com