Rayhan, who represented India at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, is also the first amateur golfer to win the Middle East and North Africa Golf Tour. Photos: Special arrangement.Thrissur: Golf, as a sport, remains largely unpopular and stands far behind other disciplines like football and cricket in Kerala. However, there is a young Malayalee golfer who has made his mark in the world of professional golf. Rayhan John Thomas, who won the third edition of the Coimbatore Open organised by the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) recently, has been making waves in the amateur and professional golfing world.
The 24-year-old Rayhan, whose family is from Kottayam, is the first Malayalee to win a PGTI tournament. In the process, he has also become the second player to win in his maiden PGTI appearance. Thai golfer Pariya Junhasavasdikul was the first to achieve the feat when he won the year-end Tour Championship in 2016 on debut