Sahith Theegala didn’t want to play this week’s Fortinet Championship.
He sought after to play.
Theegala doesn’t simply have his PGA Tour card locked up for subsequent season; he’ll play all of the signature occasions as neatly. But when requested why he used to be certainly one of simply 5 top-50 FedExCup finishers within the box for the fall-series opener at Silverado Resort in Napa, California – and, at No. 31 in issues, the highest-ranked participant excluding No. 9 Max Homa – Theegala rightfully popped again.
“I don’t think that’s a great question,” Theegala mentioned, earlier than with courtesy explaining his reasoning.
Sure, most of the Tour’s stars who completed safely inside of that choose 50-man staff will take all of the fall off. However, Theegala isn’t maximum guys. The SoCal local relishes occasions at the West Coast, and that poa annua grass. One of his ideal friends lives within reach, too. But maximum of all, Theegala loves this match, which prolonged him a sponsor invitation in a while after he grew to become skilled and not using a standing on any excursion and in the midst of the pandemic (OK, so he additionally used to be the reigning faculty participant of the 12 months who received 4 instances at Pepperdine).
Theegala loves it much more after Sunday.
The 25-year-old Theegala picked up his first profession PGA Tour victory by profitable the Fortinet in convincing style, turning a two-shot lead initially of the around right into a at ease two-shot win at 21 beneath.
“It doesn’t feel real,” Theegala mentioned simply moments after tapping in his ultimate putt, the 62nd make in 64 makes an attempt inside of 10 toes for the week. “It’s probably not going to set in for a while. But man, that was a lot of good golf, and that was some of the most fun I’ve ever had in my life.”
Theegala’s remaining bogey on the par-5 18th gap and 3 overdue birdies by runner-up S.H. Kim made a back-nine runaway seem nearer than it used to be, regardless that one best had to concentrate to the cheers from the just about 3 dozen individuals of Team Theegala with a couple of holes to play to notice this factor used to be over neatly earlier than the overall putt.
The enhance staff is led by Theegala’s folks, dad Murli and mother Karuna, and fluctuates from match to match. With Theegala grabbing dangle of the 54-hole lead, it swelled to an estimated 35 members of the family and buddies as 8 extra drove up from Southern California on Saturday evening.
“The PGA Tour was nice,” Murli Theegala mentioned. “I asked for extra tickets, and they just dumped so many onto the Ticketmaster, and we said, ‘Come on all, guys. We need a big support here.’”
Sahith Theegala felt it.
After he birdied 4 of his first seven holes to take command.
And indisputably after draining a 20-footer for birdie at No. 14, certainly one of his 3 birdies coming in.
Even as he coasted into the clubhouse by hacking a pair photographs out of the tough at the ultimate gap to card 4-under 68, the Theegala chants – Thee-ga-la! Thee-ga-la! Thee-ga-la! – reputedly by no means stopped.
“I go to bed at night these last few days and I’m like, I can’t believe how many people are cheering for me and rooting for me,” Sahith mentioned. “… They meant everything. Just like the way I am, I kind of keep my head down and keep going and stay focused, but I secretly just loving the cheering. It gets me fired up. And just knowing that I have that support no matter the good golf or the bad golf, they just have my back, and I hope they know that I have their back, too.”
When Theegala suffered a heartbreaking defeat as a rookie eventually 12 months’s WM Phoenix Open, Murli and Karuna have been there to convenience their son after he broke down in tears throughout his post-round interview.
“It’s OK,” Murli advised his son as the 3 of them embraced, the message picked up by a Netflix mic. “You’ll get your day soon.”
Theegala had to bear a pair extra close-calls – runners-up eventually 12 months’s Travelers Championship and RSM Classic. He then posted a handful of top-10s early this 12 months, together with a 9th on the Masters, to financial institution some FedExCup issues and upward thrust to a career-best No. 32 within the Official World Golf Ranking, however following a T-5 on the RBC Heritage, Theegala slumped arduous, now not cracking the top-10 once more till Sunday and falling again to No. 37 on this planet initially of the week.
After falling one shot shy of advancing to East Lake for a 2nd immediately 12 months on the BMW Championship, Theegala put away his golf equipment for per week and a part. He then flew house from Houston to his folks’ house in Chino Hills final week to have a good time Murli’s birthday earlier than heading up to Napa, the place he’d observe a bit of greater than same old as he used to be debuting a brand new set of Ping irons after about seven years the use of a combo of older fashions.
“I usually don’t switch,” Theegala mentioned on Friday, “but they feel really good, and it’s nice to have some validation right off the bat.”
Further evidence got here Sunday night as Theegala, for the primary time, hoisted a PGA Tour trophy – one of the most first he ever performed for – into the air, his family members nonetheless cheering.
That is why he performed this week.
[/gpt3]