By Kent Gray
Old Tom Morris, five-time Open champion James Braid and famed course and equipment designer Ben Sayers all played a role in the sculpting and development of The Nairn Golf Club which is set to host The Amateur from June 14-19. 

With views across the Moray Firth to Black Isle and gorse as menacing a hazard as the wind, the COVID-19 reduced field including Dubai-based England age-group international Josh Hill, are in for an exacting test of golf in a championship where starts in The Open, The U.S. Open and the 2022 Masters will be on the line. The Nairn G.C., in the Highland council area 27km east of Inverness, was founded in 1887, two years after the inaugural Amateur Championship won by Scot Allan Macfie at Royal Liverpool. Englishman John Ball holds the record for most wins with eight while former champions include Bobby Jones, José María Olazábal and Sergio Garcia. nairngolfclub.co.uk

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The 18-year-old Indian opens his assault on the British Am at 1.24pm Monday at Royal Aberdeen (4.24pm UAE time) before an 8.50am (11.50am UAE time) second round tee time at nearby Murcar Links on Tuesday.

The Dubai-domiciled teen is one of 288 golfers from 38 countries looking to advance from the 36-holes of strokeplay qualifying to the matchplay phase of the Europe’s leading amateur event. Only 64 players will advance to the knockout stages at Royal Abderdeen which culminates in a 36-hole final on Saturday.

Thomas is looking to avenge the agony of his near miss at Royal Portrush last year when he missed the matchplay phase by a stroke and is in a buoyant mood despite wasting a golden opportunity at the recent St Andrews Links Trophy when he went from contending through 27 holes to inextricably missing the 36-hole cut.

Related: From contending at St Andrews to suddenly missing the cut, Thomas banks another tough lesson

“After the Links Trophy I was a bit disappointed, played really well and was in contention after 27 holes but unfortunately had a bad finish but I’ve been working on some things including keeping the ball flight down a bit further,” Thomas told GolfDigest ME.com

“I’ve also been working on my lag putting as well, I think I’ve figured something out. So I’m looking forward to this week. I struck the ball really well in the practice rounds, I’ve got a good feel for the greens as well so I think we’re going to have a good week.”

Thomas has played Royal Aberdeen twice and Murcar once in practice and has conquered a game plan for the links land tests in Scotland’s North East.

“Murcar Links is playing sort, a lot of irons off the tee, a very tricky, strategic golf course while Royal Aberdeen is a little longer, a little wider off the tee but with a lot more shots into the wind…some of the holes you are hitting 2 irons into par-4s and stuff.

“There is a score to be made but it’s just not trying to force anything, that will be key, trying not to be too aggressive and taking my medicine when I have too. This week’s goal is as always, just have fun, play as good as I can, give it 100 percent…that’s all I can do.”

Thomas, like every player, certainly has every incentive to play well with the winner of The Amateur gaining a place in the field for the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie next month as well as invites to the 2019 Masters and U.S. Open.

Several Open champions have played in The Amateur Championship previously including Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo, Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Louis Oosthuizen, Ernie Els, Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson. The 2017 Masters Champion Sergio Garcia won The Amateur at Muirfield in 1998.

England’s Harry Ellis won the title last year, battling back from four down with five to play in the 36-hole final at Royal St George’s.

The post Thomas in positive mood ahead of The 123rd (British) Amateur Championship appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The need for sun protection was the only thing to catch Rayhan Thomas off guard as he rounded out his preparation for the 122nd British Amateur Championship in an unusually balmy 28 degrees at Royal St Georges’ in Sandwich on Sunday.

“Today was quite warm actually, probably needed the sun screen,” Thomas joked on the eve of ‘The Amateur’ being co-hosted by neighbouring Prince’s Golf Club.

The early English summer mercury mightn’t have threatened the 50+ degrees (Celsius) recorded back at home in Dubai but it clearly helped the 17-year-old Indian No.1 feel right at home on the famed Kent coast links land.

Thomas will take a fun 48-hour, two round reconnaissance mission into his first British Amateur where he tees it up at 9.39am (12.39pm UAE time) alongside Daniel O’Loughlin (England) and Stephen Behr (USA) in Monday’s opening round at Prince’s. He’ll then have to negotiate an afternoon start (2.15pm UK time/5.15pm UAE time) at St Georges’ Tuesday before the 228 strong field is whittled down to 64 qualifiers for the matchplay knockout rounds at St Georges’ from Wednesday.

Thomas played both courses in practice and liked the challenging conditions he encountered, hardly surprising given his love of links golf.

“They’re fantastic courses, really playing like true links,” Thomas told Golf Digest Middle East.

“It’s firm, it’s brown, and sometimes you have to bounce the ball 40 yards short of the green with like mid to long irons and run it up

“I’ve just really enjoyed all the creative shots you can play. You can hit a lot of bump and runs, putt it from 40 yards off the green, hit balls into slopes and try to run it down, release it to the pin. It’s been fun trying to figure out that strategic golf and playing it that way.”

Thomas has enlisted an experienced local bagman to help his tilt at arguably the world’s most coveted amateur title which counts Bobby Jones (1930), Masters champion Sergio Garcia (1998), fellow Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal (1984) and Italian star Matteo Manaserro (2009) among its former champions.

RELATED:  Thomas puts exams on ice to tee it up in the 122nd British Amateur Championship

“I have a really good caddy this week who knows Royal St Georges’ like the back of his hand, he’s a local whose been caddying for 38 years so, yeah, looking forward to it,” said Thomas who has proven UK pedigree having won the 2016 Scottish Boys’ Strokeplay Championship.

“I think to make the matchplay, I just need to play it solid, take it shot by shot and just don’t make too many silly mistakes because it is going to be tough out there.

“The courses are tough with how firm they are playing  So I just need to keep it steady, be patient and come out with a good score. Yeah, I’m looking forward to it, I can’t wait.”

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