Theegala crashes the party at Phoenix Open
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — Sahith Theegala crashed golf’s biggest party.
Playing in the last group off the 10th tee Thursday in his first WM Phoenix Open start, Theegala was 7-under with two holes left when the round was suspended because of darkness. K.H. Lee was second after a 6-under 65.
“The big key for me, like always in my game, is just putting my driver in the fairway,” Theegala said. “I was able to do that early and often.”
The 24-year-old former Pepperdine star got into the event on a sponsor exemption.
“Super strong field, probably the strongest field I played in so far this year,” Theegala said. “I just figured it was like another free-roll opportunity, might as well take advantage of it and obviously super thankful that I got in.”
The fans were back in full force on a 27-degree Celsius day at firm and fast TPC Scottsdale, with well over 100,000 on hand and a lot more expected today and Saturday. Last year, daily attendance was limited to 5,000 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I always love the fans here,” said defending champion Brooks Koepka, two strokes back after a 66. “I like playing in front of a lot of people. They cheer you when you hit a good one and boo you when you hit a bad one, which is what you deserve.”
Theegala opened with a 16-foot birdie putt on No. 10 and made four straight birdies on Nos. 13-16, holing a 15-footer from the fringe on the stadium par-3 16th.
“I got off to a pretty hot start,” Theegala said. “It was nice to see one go in on the first hole. That always kind of sets the tone.”
The PGA Tour rookie birdied the par-3 third and ran in a 30-footer on par-3 fourth. He will resume play this morning with a 16-foot par putt on the par-4 eighth.
“I started hitting my driver a little squirrely at the end, so this is a welcome stop, honestly,” Theegala said.
Canadian Adam Hadwin and Harry Higgs matched Koepka, also the 2015 winner, at 66. Scott Stallings also was 5-under with a hole left. Top-ranked Jon Rahm topped the group at 67.