Aug 31, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Sahith Theegala acknowledges the gallery after his putt on the 18th inexperienced throughout the third spherical of the TOUR Championship golf match. Necessary Credit score: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports activities ATLANTA — Sahith Theegala is 98 or 99 % certain he moved some sand whereas taking a swing out of a bunker at East Lake Golf Membership.
Not sure of the exact rule in query, Theegala let taking part in associate Xander Schauffele and PGA Tour guidelines officers know. He ended up accepting a two-stroke penalty for the infraction on the third gap, which may have derailed his weekend on the Tour Championship and value him lots of of hundreds of {dollars} — not hyperbole.
But when Theegala desires to neglect the miscue at No. 3, he authored a again 9 that was much more memorable. The 26-year-old ran off birdies on seven of his last eight holes, together with Nos. 14 via 18, vaulting him to 3rd place at 17 beneath after three rounds Saturday on the tour’s season finale.
“Just a few momentum putts that form of saved the birdies going,” Theegala mentioned. “Yeah, it simply felt like numerous my sport is basically feeling good proper now.”
His 5-under 66 may have been a 7-under 64 if not for the penalty.
Theegala, a teen on tour taking part in in his second Tour Championship, hit his drive on the par-4 third right into a bunker. He described having an unusually good lie, together with his ball sitting up within the sand, and as he started his backswing, he was fairly certain he noticed some grains of sand fly with the clubhead.
The well-known edict within the guidelines of golf is that gamers can’t floor their membership within the sand when addressing their ball. Theegala did not know if that additionally utilized to the backswing. Guidelines officers knowledgeable him it might be a two-stroke penalty, turning his par at No. 3 right into a double bogey.
“Sadly the rule is it would not matter the intent,” Theegala defined after his spherical. “Should you change the lie within the direct space across the ball that might have an effect on your swing, it’s a two-shot penalty.
“It was simply unlucky. However I did — fairly certain I breached the principles, so I am paying the worth for it, and I be ok with it.”
Theegala had the chance to overview the video with guidelines officers earlier than signing his card. There was no conclusive video proof to overturn the penalty.
Theegala mentioned he would have slept higher if he had seen his suspicion confirmed on digital camera. But when he hadn’t known as the penalty on himself?
“Oh, I would not be capable to sleep,” he mentioned. “It doesn’t matter what the end result was, I wanted to know what the precise rule was.
“I made a decision to name the principles official instantly on that inexperienced. However both approach, I might have requested the principles officers after the spherical, too, or someway discovered what the rule was, and if I did not ask a guidelines official and I went again house and regarded up the rule — it was sitting in my thoughts.”
It was powerful for Theegala to maneuver on instantly. He mentioned he chucked his water bottle after taking part in the opening.
“I put on my feelings on my sleeve. Robust to not get upset about that,” Theegala mentioned. “I made an enormous par on 4. Thought that saved my spherical.
“Yeah, I am simply actually completely happy I made that putt as a result of if I did not make that putt, I might have been actually sizzling strolling to gap 5. Yeah, simply gave slightly bit extra gasoline to the hearth, I suppose. Simply tried to make use of that positively. My caddie, Carl (Smith), saved telling me that I have been taking part in superior. ‘Simply hold doing all of your factor. Two pictures is so much, however on the finish of the day you have received much more golf to play.'”
It took till the par-3 eleventh gap for that fireplace to show into some optimistic scores; Theegala landed his tee shot 6 ft away from the pin and made birdie. A ten-footer on the par-5 14th kicked off his closing surge, which included an method to inside 3 ft on No. 17 and a fantastic pitch on No. 18 that left him a tap-in.
Theegala may have been disqualified from the occasion if the penalty went ignored and it was found later. Nonetheless, the choice took braveness. A $100 million purse is on supply on the playoff finale; the distinction between third and fourth, for instance, is $1.5 million.
Theegala would have entered Sunday in third place even when the penalty was overturned. Together with his last birdie, he handed Schauffele, leaving him alone in fourth at 16 beneath. Theegala is 9 behind chief Scottie Scheffler, however second place remains to be in play.
“I’ve simply performed a lot golf,” Theegala mentioned. “You spend a lot time of your life staring down on the lie you may have, the ball you may have, and it simply didn’t really feel like a traditional fairway bunker shot. It felt like among the sand moved. On the finish of the day I am good with the ruling, and I believe it is particularly reasonable that I used to be assessed two pictures.”
–Adam Zielonka, Discipline Stage Media
