2024 Texas Children's Houston Open: Top 10 power rankings at Memorial Park

Sahith Theegala is trending upward.

Three top-10s in his last four starts and five top-40s in a row make him one of the favorites this week at Memorial Park.

Theegala thrived at the Florida swing’s Signature Events. He finished T-6th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and T-9th in his last start a couple weeks ago at the Players Championship.

The Pepperdine alum has a win in the past six months coming in the fall at the Fortinet Championship. He also took second place in January at The Sentry.

Theegala arrives at the Texas Children’s Houston Open for the third time. He debuted in 2021 with a T-61st (70-71-70-76) and climbed to T-22nd (71-68-73-64) the following year.

Theegala is an Orange, California, native, but he’s spent plenty of time in the Dallas area and is now a resident. He frequently played AJGA events in the Metroplex and has family nearby.

The 26-year-old ranks 26th on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee (.625). That’s up from 134th (-.139) last season.

If he keeps driving it like that, it’s a game-changer. We’ve all seen Theegala’s creativity and shotmaking save him from precarious situations. It’s a lot of fun, but it could lead to a lot less stress if he’s playing from the short grass more often.

“I know the stats didn't really know it, but I really felt like I made a stride in my driving last year, and strokes gained off the tee was probably around 100, which for me is a win,” Theegala was transcribed by ASAP Sports at the Players Championship. “It's cool to see the stats, and I've picked up a little speed just from no speed training but just getting better in the gym.”

Theegala also ranks 17th in SG: Putting (.485), 22nd in SG: Around-the-Green (.267), and 32nd in SG: Total (.788).