2022 John Deere Classic: Top 10 Power Rankings at TPC Deere Run
By all accounts, Sahith Theegala is already becoming one of the most likable guys on the PGA Tour. He’s known to have a positive attitude and wears his emotions on his sleeve.
He’s going to need all that and some resilience to get over another close call last week at the Travelers Championship.
Playing in the penultimate group, Theegala stepped up to the par-4 18th hole with a one-shot lead. He pulled driver when the broadcast crew was calling for a lesser club. He found the lip of a fairway bunker and hit his first approach shot four inches per shot link.
He found the green after successfully laying up on his second bunker shot, but could not make a 12-footer for bogey. He used some magic to make birdie on 17 hitting his approach out of a divot, but it stopped there. Xander Schauffele made birdie to reclaim his lead and win by two. The 24-year-old Theegala took T-2nd, his best career PGA Tour result.
He addressed the media with honesty and optimism.
“I feel like I’m playing really well and if I just keep doing the same, keep loving the game. I love the process. I’ve never loved it more than I have now,” Theegala was transcribed by ASAP Sports. “So, yeah, I’m just I’m really excited to see if I can do it again, keep putting myself in these positions.”
The Pepperdine alum was oh so close at the WM Phoenix Open in February, too. Theegala led on the 17th hole Sunday when he rocketed a 3-wood into the water on the drivable par-4. He settled for T-3rd.
On the bright side, he climbed 53 spots in the Official World Golf Ranking to a career-high 66th. Theegala also has his PGA Tour card locked up for next season and can now focus on trying to grab one of three spots up for grabs this week for The Open Championship.
He hasn’t had a crack at any majors in 2022 and missed the cut in his other two tries, so he ought to be itching to qualify for St. Andrew’s.
Theegala has made 10 cuts in a row and also has a T-5th recently at The Memorial Tournament presented by Workday.
He’s making his John Deere Classic debut.
Next. Sahith Theegala Has Chance To Grow After Another Difficult Defeat. dark
Theegala doesn’t have a lot of statistical superlatives this season but is pretty solid across the board. He’s 34th in scrambling at 63.42%.
He’s the highest-ranked player in the FedEx Cup who is in the field this week. That won’t change come Sunday after he hoists the trophy.