WM Phoenix Open 2024: Top 10 power rankings at TPC Scottsdale

Sahith Theegala had us captivated at the 2022 WM Phoenix Open not only in the moment, but when we relived it on Netflix’s “Full Swing”.

He stepped up to the 17th tee at TPC Scottsdale on Sunday firmly in contention. The adrenaline-filled rookie obliterated a driver and saw his tee ball go into the water. That resulted in T-3rd with rounds of 64-64-69-70.

The former amateur standout had to go through some close misses in his first two years as a pro. It all paid off last fall as the Californian won in his home state in front of swaths of family and friends at the Fortinet Championship.

Theegala nearly added a Signature Event win to his resume this year. The former Pepperdine Wave took it low with rounds of 64-69-68-63 (-28) to finish solo second and one shot back at The Sentry.

His strong finish to open the year was perhaps a benefit of getting some time to relax.

“Funny enough, this is my first real offseason,” Theegala told Golf.com’s Dylan Dethier. “Right out of college [in 2020], I was just playing mini-tours every week. Then, in 2021, I was in the Korn Ferry finals, leading straight to the Tour. Last year, I played every event I got in. So, yeah, this offseason has been really nice so far. Just catching up with family, hanging out with friends, putting the sticks away for, y’know, a week at a time. I do get in the gym a little more, which is nice. But, yeah, I’m on the couch a lot. I’m taking it pretty chill this fall.”

Theegala added T-20th in his last start last week at the weather-shortened AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

This week will be his third start at the WM Phoenix Open. The 26-year-old shot 72-70-68-71 en route to T-39th in 2023.