Sahith Reddy Theegala walked off the direction after his 2d spherical, sopping wet within the pouring rain and almost definitely smoldering within for completing what gave the impression of a cast spherical with back-to-back bogies at the seventeenth and 18th.
And but, the instant you remind him that he will get to spend some other two days at the maximum hallowed belongings in golfing, a grin in an instant seems on his face.
To borrow a word from our faculty days, Augusta National Golf Club, and The Masters, poses questions which are ‘out of syllabus’. It’s brutal for the primary timers traditionally, even if gamers like Jordan Spieth and Will Zalatoris have made beautiful spectacular debuts lately.
Difficult on highest {golfing} days, the Augusta National was once like an aggravated viper that had simply been stepped on its tail within the climate stipulations that prevailed on Saturday. Without doing anything else horrible, Theegala had slipped to three-over for the 3rd spherical after 8 holes and gave the impression of losing manner down because the chilly, wind and protracted rain made existence tricky.
But this is the item concerning the 25-year-old American-Indian, whose folks hail from Hyderabad – he does not surrender. Whenever his again is in opposition to the wall, he’ll in some way use it as a springboard.
In the previous three hundred and sixty five days, Theegala has turn into a phenomenon at the PGA Tour, emerging from out of doors 300 within the Official World Golf Rankings to No 30 this 12 months. During that point, his expressive golfing and his incredible array of ingenious photographs have gained him hundreds of fanatics. And hundreds extra have flocked to his aspect since Netflix aired ‘Full Swing’ previous this 12 months, wherein Theegala and his vocal crew of family and friends had been prominently featured.
So, after creating a double bogey at the par-4 seventeenth hollow (his 8th) on Saturday, Theegala did what he all the time does — dusted himself, were given again at the horse and raced forward. He performed his closing 10 holes bogey-free and with two birdies to complete on one-over 73 for the 3rd spherical. That stepped forward his place to tied twenty fifth position at even-par 216 (73+70+73).
“It’s been an unbelievable week to this point. I were given right here Sunday overdue afternoon. I knew it was once going to move truly speedy. So, I simply attempted to take it within the second. The proven fact that I’ve were given a pair extra rounds is solely superior,” stated Theegala after making the reduce.
“This position is so particular. I’ve a few of my easiest buddies and all of my circle of relatives right here. It’s been a laugh. I simply are not looking for the week to finish. I’m simply going to revel in those closing two rounds it doesn’t matter what the elements’s like and the way I play.
“But the sport feels excellent, and I’m a competitor. Once I am getting out at the golfing direction, I’m absolutely targeted and all that. Whether the elements is dangerous, or excellent, it is all the time a laugh to be at this position and attending to play in opposition to the most efficient gamers on this planet.”
Asked if a top-10 was once inside of his succeed in, Theegala stated: “I’m not even thinking about it, but I would love that. I think the way I’m hitting it, just got to be crisper around the greens for the final round. It’s very much possible.”
One of the most efficient and oft-repeated anecdotes about Theegala is how he begins his periods on the using vary by way of hitting intentional shanks. His fanatics also are bewildered by way of the type of photographs he has been in a position to drag off. Which is a top quality that has been put to excellent use at the hilly and asymmetric terrain of Augusta National.
“If you gave me a flat lie each and every shot, I’m now not the most efficient vary participant, I can be the primary to confess that. I feel there may be a large number of guys that are not even right here at this match that would hit it a lot, significantly better than me from a flat vary lie,” stated Theegala, whose self-deprecating techniques have additionally set him aside.
“My really feel and my visualization takes over off those asymmetric lies. I’m now not even nervous that I were given to position an ideal swing on it. I’m simply feeling the slope out. I simply assume ‘cannot omit there, so I’m hitting it there’.
“I would not say it is a bonus right here at Augusta National. But I truly revel in that side of it.”
Theegala by no means appears like taking a look past his subsequent golfing shot. But he’ll make an exception for the Masters – he without a doubt desires to be again right here subsequent 12 months.