Dubai-based Rayhan Thomas will be part of a world-class field at the 2026 Hero Indian Open, set for March 26-29 at DLF Golf and Country Club. The tournament, co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and Indian Golf Union, features a record prize purse of USD $2.55 million.
The Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club member will be making his fourth Hero Indian Open start as he joins a line-up featuring Akshay Bhatia and Francesco Molinari.
Thomas, a Korn Ferry Tour member and 2024 graduate of Oklahoma State University, has made an immediate impact since turning professional in the summer of 2024.
In just his fourth professional event, he captured his first pro title on the PGTI in India. “It was a lot of fun to play,” he reflected. “I had my uncle on my bag and my sister watching, which made it even more special. To be back in India for my debut event and come out on top was a statement to a lot of the guys I played amateur golf with.”
An accomplished amateur, Thomas made history in 2016 as the first amateur to win on the MENA Tour at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and, at 17, equalled a world record with nine consecutive birdies before finishing runner-up at the 2018 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.
Joining Thomas in the field is six-time DP World Tour winner and 2018 Open Champion Francesco Molinari, and Hero MotoCorp ambassador Akshay Bhatia, who recently won the Arnold Palmer Invitational 2026. Other notable entrants include reigning Hero Indian Open champion Eugenio Chacarra, 2025 Phoenix Open winner Thomas Detry, and current season DP World Tour winners Casey Jarvis, Nacho Elvira, and Freddy Schott.
The field also includes reigning champion Eugenio Chacarra of Spain, 2025 Phoenix Open winner Thomas Detry of Belgium, and current season DP World Tour winners Casey Jarvis, Nacho Elvira, and Freddy Schott. Top Indian professionals, including Veer Ahlawat, Yuvraj Sandhu, Manu Gandas, and Shaurya Bhattacharya, will round out the competitive lineup.
Hero MotoCorp has been the title sponsor since 2005, while the tournament’s association with the DP World Tour dates back to 2015. The event has grown into one of Asia’s premier golf tournaments, offering players a challenging test on one of the region’s toughest courses.
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