European Tour: Joburg Open top 10 power rankings

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 23: George Coetzee of South Africa hits his tee shot on the 9th during day one of the Joburg Open at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club on February 23, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /

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MUSCAT, OMAN – NOVEMBER 01: Aaron Rai of England tees off on the 1st hole during day one of the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final at Al Mouj Golf on November 1, 2017 in Muscat, Oman. (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images) /

Aaron Rai proved his mettle in 2017 on the Challenge Tour. The 22-year-old Englishman finished fourth on the Challenge Tour’s order of merit and was first in stroke average last season (69.07).

Rai won the La Vaudreuil Golf Challenge in July and has done well in spot starts on the European Tour, tying for 10th at the Made in Denmark, tying 25th at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and recently tying eighth at the Andalucía Masters.

In his limited time on the big Tour, Rai was 20th in GIR and fourth in driving accuracy. He is a short hitter, but the elevation this week will help to negate what appears as somewhat of a daunting scorecard lengthwise.

He has slowed down a little with missed cuts the last two weeks in Hong Kong and Mauritius.

This week will be Rai’s Joburg Open debut, but this week being at a new course levels out the playing field.

If he continues to improve, keep Rai in mind for 2018 Rookie of the Year honors.

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