DUBAI // Rayhan Thomas became only the second UAE-based amateur to make the cut at an Omega Dubai Desert Classic, but did not see any need to celebrate.
The 17-year-old Indian, playing this week courtesy of his Order of Merit victory on the 2016 Mena Tour, resumed his second round at the storm-affected Emirates Golf Club on Saturday morning, rebounded from three dropped shots in two holes and blitzed through most of his back nine.
As his chances of hanging around for another two days increased with three birdies in five holes from the 13th, so too did the noise from the Dubai resident’s continually swelling support.
In the end, a double bogey on 18 gave Thomas a 75 and left him on one-under par, meaning he sat proudly inside the cut line by two shots.
So a first full European Tour event, in only his third European Tour appearance. As an amateur. Aged 17. No biggie, really.
__________________________________
Read more
■ Tyrrell Hatton: Surprises himself by shooting lowest third round
■ Gallery: Friday's photos as Tiger withdraws and wind plays havoc
■ Comment: John McAuley on Tiger Woods's long road ahead
__________________________________
“It was awesome to make the cut, but I wasn’t really thinking about it,” Thomas said. “Obviously I had two more rounds to play so that was what my mind was on. But pretty happy to make the weekend.”
He went back out as if he was positively ecstatic. After a quick turnaround, Thomas began his third round on the 10th by quickly reeling off four birdies and a bogey, then drove the green on the par-4 17th and watched as his putt for eagle lipped out. Anyway, the birdie lifted him to five-under for the tournament, and at that stage, to within six shots of leader Sergio Garcia.
However, Thomas came back in 41, when a bogey, a double-bogey and a triple halted him in his tracks, so he eventually finished on one-over par in a tie for 54th.
A “few bad swings” had done it, he said. Understandably given the circumstances, fatigue played its part, too.
“Yeah, it’s not easy,” said Thomas, who conceded the extended day’s play had also taken its toll mentally. “Because you have to focus so much on every shot. So when you’re on the back nine and start making a few bad swings it takes it out of you.”
That was most evident on the par-3 7th. Thomas’s tee-shot found the water, and he followed that with a wedge to around 25 feet. From there, he three-putted.
“Just a lack of concentration,” Thomas said.
Yet there is nothing like another crack at it to narrow the focus. Thomas returns on Sunday for his first final round on the European Tour, where he will mix it with the big boys one more time. Although, when asked about his target for Round 4, he sounded like a veritable veteran himself.
“Something in the red,” Thomas said. “If I can get myself back into red figures, I’ll be happy.”
How does he prepare for that, then? Cue that 17-year-old nonchalance.
“Get plenty of rest, go out for dinner, get something to eat,” Thomas said. “And just chill out.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Cases of coronavirus in the GCC as of March 15
Saudi Arabia – 103 infected, 0 dead, 1 recovered
UAE – 86 infected, 0 dead, 23 recovered
Bahrain – 210 infected, 0 dead, 44 recovered
Kuwait – 104 infected, 0 dead, 5 recovered
Qatar – 337 infected, 0 dead, 4 recovered
Oman – 19 infected, 0 dead, 9 recovered
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 592bhp
Torque: 620Nm
Price: Dh980,000
On sale: now
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Under 19 World Cup
Group A: India, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka
Group B: Australia, England, Nigeria, West Indies
Group C: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe
Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, UAE
UAE fixtures
Saturday, January 18, v Canada
Wednesday, January 22, v Afghanistan
Saturday, January 25, v South Africa
The specs: 2018 Ford Mustang GT
Price, base / as tested: Dh204,750 / Dh241,500
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque: 569Nm @ 4,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.3L / 100km
Huddersfield Town permanent signings:
- Steve Mounie (striker): signed from Montpellier for £11 million
- Tom Ince (winger): signed from Derby County for £7.7m
- Aaron Mooy (midfielder): signed from Manchester City for £7.7m
- Laurent Depoitre (striker): signed from Porto for £3.4m
- Scott Malone (defender): signed from Fulham for £3.3m
- Zanka (defender): signed from Copenhagen for £2.3m
- Elias Kachunga (winger): signed for Ingolstadt for £1.1m
- Danny WIlliams (midfielder): signed from Reading on a free transfer