NAPA, Calif. — Sahith Theegala talked all week in regards to the significance of getting practically three dozen members of the family and pals following him on the Fortinet Championship. Taking part in with the lead on Sunday, the 25-year-old from California did all the things he might to maintain his supporters in excessive spirits.
Theegala made greater than sufficient birdies to cowl for his errors, taking pictures a 4-under 68 for a two-shot victory at Silverado, his first win in 74 begins on the PGA Tour.
Theegala began with a two-shot lead and birdied three of the opening 5 holes. Nobody bought near him the remainder of the way in which.
“Regardless of the nice golf or the unhealthy golf, they only have my again. It is a group win,” Theegala stated, his mother and pop by his facet on the 18th inexperienced. “It is not only a win for me, it is a win for the entire household.”
Theegala completed with seven birdies and three bogeys, together with one after he hit a tee shot that landed in a fairway bunker on a special gap. With a three-shot lead, he hit his drive and his layup into the tough on the par-5 18th gap and tapped in for a 6. He completed at 21-under 267.
S.H. Kim (68) completed second, and Cam Davis (70) was one other shot behind.
Justin Thomas had his worst spherical of the week in his remaining tuneup for the Ryder Cup in Rome, closing with an even-par 72 to complete six pictures again. Max Homa, the two-time defending champion and Thomas’ U.S. teammate, closed with a 69 to tie for seventh.
Theegala, a son of Indian immigrants who performed in faculty at Pepperdine, made the Tour Championship as a rookie final 12 months. Final month, he made a bogey on the ultimate gap of the BMW Championship that prevented a return to East Lake, ending his season on a bitter notice.
Though he already is ready for all of the $20 million signature occasions subsequent 12 months, he wished to play at Silverado as a result of he loves the event and competitors.
It paid off in a giant approach. The victory will get him into the Sentry Match of Champions and assures his spot within the Masters.
Earlier than his breakthrough in Napa, Theegala had shut calls at Phoenix, Hartford and Sea Island, endearing himself to followers.
His household’s help was unwavering. The afternoon ended with an emotional Theegala wiping his eyes and hugging and shaking arms with nearly everybody in sight.
“”To have the ability to share this second with all of them is de facto particular and one thing I am going to always remember,” Theegala stated. “By way of the highs and lows this week they’re cheering me on and supporting me. They have been that approach since I’ve began my professional profession. It is superior simply listening to the chants each single gap and it undoubtedly gave me a variety of vitality.”
Theegala overcame his errors with regular iron play and very good placing. His three bogeys had been yet one more than he had within the first three rounds mixed. Every time, he steadied himself.
Theegala dropped a shot on the par-4 sixth gap after hitting his tee shot approach proper right into a fairway bunker on No. 9. He responded by hitting a wedge 13 inches from the opening for birdie on the par-4 eighth, then made one other bogey on No. 10.
Theegala birdied three of the following six holes, and after a par on the seventeenth, he was capable of soak within the cheers from the gallery as he walked towards the 18th inexperienced.
Following bogeys with daring shotmaking is nothing new for Theegala. This time, he did it typically sufficient to earn a trophy.
“That is been the power of my recreation for thus lengthy,” he stated. “I’ve a reasonably brief reminiscence on and off the golf course. It really works out properly in golf. This week I simply felt so relaxed and felt like my recreation was in a extremely good place.”
Kim, probably the greatest putters on tour, performed bogey-free and had 4 birdies on the again 9.
Thomas started the day with an opportunity for a win that may erase any doubt about U.S. captain Zach Johnson‘s determination to select him for the Ryder Cup group after a down 12 months. However he bogeyed Nos. 2 and 5 and turned in 3 over earlier than salvaging his spherical with a bogey-free again 9.
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