2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans: Top 10 Power Rankings

Sahith Theegala and Justin Suh were both on the victorious American Palmer Cup team in 2018. Both are Californians around the same age, so I see little issue with them bonding this week.

Theegala is one of the more likable guys out on the PGA Tour and one that would seemingly pair well with anyone.

Conversely, anyone would want to pair up with Theegala. The 25-year-old out of Pepperdine is up to a career-best 23rd in the Official World Golf Ranking after contending at last week’s RBC Heritage en route to T-5th.

That came on the heels of his best finish at a major championship, solo ninth at the Masters. Theegala’s on a streak of 10 made cuts, which includes T-2nd at the Sanderson Farms Championship.

He’s on the short list of guys due for their first win in the big leagues. Not to mention, Theegala is third in birdies this season (252), which is great for a tournament like this.

Theegala also won the QBE Shootout last year alongside Tom Hoge, an exhibition tournament similar to the Zurich.

Justin Suh is also 25 and hailing from USC. He was a can’t-miss kid in college like Theegala.

Pro success hasn’t come easy for Suh, but this season is a positive sign. He started 2023 outside the top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking and is now in the top 80.

After missing his first three cuts of 2022-23, he made his next six. It would’ve been 11 in a row if not for a withdrawal at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Suh has a couple top-10s at the Honda Classic (T-5th) and Players Championship (T-6th).

He nearly top-10’d at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans when he and Doug Ghim took T-11th in 2021. Theegala also has familiarity at this event as he and Beau Hossler finished at 5-under and three shots outside the cut line last year.