Theegala has hot start at Phoenix

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — 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 seven under with two holes left when the round was suspended because of darkness. K.H. Lee was second after a six-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 an 80-degree day at firm and fast TPC Scottsdale, with well over 100,000 on hand after daily attendance last year 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 15footer from the fringe on the stadium par-three 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-three third and ran in a 30-footer on the par-three fourth. He will resume play with a 16-foot par putt on the par-four eighth.

“I started hitting my driver a little squirrely at the end, so this is a welcome stop, honestly,” Theegala said.

Adam Hadwin and Harry Higgs matched Koepka at 66. Scott Stallings also was five under with a hole left. Top-ranked Jon Rahm topped the group at 67.