1,264 Sahith Theegala Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO All Sports Entertainment News Archival Browse 1,264 sahith theegala stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Name: Sahith Theegala Hometown: Orange, Calif. College: Pepperdine Why we're watching: Sahith Theegala first became a fan favorite on the PGA Tour after he just missed out on a win at the. Type above and press Enter to search. My mom, too, sacrificed so much for me, but my dads definitely the reason Im playing professional golf today. Theegala, 22, who is Indian-American, now faces the biggest challenge of any amateurs path, turning pro, as one of the smattering of nonwhite players in a traditionally conservative sport. If we talk about Sahith Theegalas marital status then we want to tell you that he is uncovered. He also previously worked for World Soccer and Rugby World magazines. But make no mistake about it. In addition to competing for his high school team, Theegala also competed on the invitation-only Toyota Tour Cup, a highly prestigious tour in which junior golfers can hone their skills and compete against the top players in the region. There, he made a birdie on the par-5 to get to 4-under on his round. Paired with Phil Mickelson for the final 32 holes on Sunday after a weather delay with thousands of spectators following along, Theegala hit his tee shot on the famed par-3 sixth hole featuring a bunker in the middle of the green over the bunker to the back of the green. 19. He stands at a height of 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) tall. To wit: On Friday night, the Theegalas went out for a sushi dinner in Scottsdale. Sahith Theegala made headlines earlier this week for having one of the biggest groups of family and friends in the field following his rounds at the WM . Full-swing flop-shots from a foot off the chipping green made people fear for their safety. Stars are everywhere on the leaderboard heading into the weekend at Bay Hill. Initially, Muralidhar planned to return to India after finishing his studies, but he fell in love with the U.S. He plays very few straight shots. From a young age, he was very creative, as Muralidhar puts it. 3. Hed go over to the putting area and just shank one and a ball would go flying by my head or something. Search instead in Creative? Stay tuned for more updates on LatestinBollywood. At least once every two years, Muralidhar made it a point to bring the family back to India, where his parents still live. All kinds of random stuff like that. The incident did not thwart Theegalas development to become the top male collegiate golfer in the country, a distinction he earned this season before his No. Consider PGA Tour-star-in-the-making Sahith Theegala as Exhibit A; his approach to putting embodies that Einstein witticism like few other golfers. Theegala had won the first tournament he played in at the age of 6, the prestigious Junior Worlds in San Diego, and won it again at ages 8 and 10. Unfortunately, he suffered a wrist injury in 2018, which forced him to miss the entire 2018-19 season, which he redshirted. Gary Hoskins. What happened in the wake of Sundays 17th-hole collapse, which knocked the 24-year-old Chino Hills resident into a three-way tie for third place, further endeared Theegala to those in attendance and watching on television. But if you shoot 68 playing your game all the time, thats usually going to beat someone who occasionally shoots 62. Seemingly everyone who has played with him or seen him play has a story, and the plot follows the same script: Theegala escapes from a near-impossible situation. Beside Theegala, two of golfs biggest stars Brooks Koepka and Xander Schauffele prepared for shots of their own, each pining for the 54-hole lead. Theegala is a golfer from America and a member of the PGA Tour. GOLF.com and GOLF Magazine are published by EB GOLF MEDIA LLC, a division of 8AM GOLF, Who is Sahith Theegala? Well before he was a three-time all-American golfer at Pepperdine and long before he made his . Sahith Theegala has made his debut at the U.S. Open Tour 2021 of PGA at Torey Pines South Course. This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids, Best coffee city in the world? Visit our corporate site. 4. In the years after Sahith was born in 1997, the family bond strengthened, with birthday parties serving as regular reunions. His Indian heritage comes from his parents. The No. Theegala grabbed the lead in Scottsdale with a second-round 64. according to those close to him. His scoliosis creates the problem of so much side bend on the downswing, and it really comes to light with the driver, not so much with the irons, Hunter said. It was all in an attempt to keep his game sharp, a very different process than most rising stars in the game who are often overburdened with instruction and over-reliant on technology to aid in improvement. BA1 1UA. If youre not trying to win, what are you doing?, Golfers Pro Journey Starts With a Burst Bubble, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/02/sports/golf/sahith-theegala-pga-tour.html. How many episodes are in Full Swing season 1, how long does each episode last, and which languages are official dubbings available in? 3. 14. . Sahith Theegala, his first round on Thursday suspended due to darkness, went back to the house, ordered Thai and watched basketball. To see this page as it is meant to appear, please enable your Javascript! Q.4What isSahith Theegalas Nationality? Background of Sahith Theegala's Parents. It was an unusual visual at the end of a golf tournament, but not as unusual as what Theegala has often done before them. In his role, he is responsible for editing, writing and developing stories across the golf space. From here, well let Theegala tell it. It wasnt the same. Sahith Theegala Stats | ESPN S. Straka . but Theegala hits shanks on purpose for fun. 4. PGA TOUR Stats, bio, video, photos, results, and career highlights Hopefully there is some inspiration behind that, for people who watch me and realize that you dont have to be the stereotypical white golfer.. 2023 Getty Images. He made his debut at the U.S. Open Tour 2021 of PGA at Torey Pines South Course. He was the San Gabriel Valley Tribunes Area Player of the Year as a junior after winning the Hacienda League title and reaching the CIF state tournament. Sahith Theegala, who took fourth in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines (North) January 25 - 28 in his last action, heads into the 2023 WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale with +4000 odds to win. I felt OK. I was looking to see if he had any nerves or apprehension. So, Id definitely say my father. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. 16. I would cry when the Lakers would lose or Kobe would have a bad game when I was young. School was always at the top of the list, and that translated into me being disciplined on the golf course, and really in all of my life.. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. He hits his ball into a bush near the green with water on the other side of the green in an impossible spot, and he hits it to like 4 feet out of a bush, said Cootes, who caddied for Theegala at the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills when they were both sophomores. In 2016-17, he had five top-10 finishes, including his first collegiate victory, and was again an All-WCC First Team selection, also earning All-American third-team honors. USE CODE LOVE5 AT CHECKOUT TO GET AN EXTRA 5% OFF! He currently resides in Chino Hills, California. Theegala opened his 2022-23 season with a top-10 finish at the Fortinet Championship in September 2022. His ability to score when hes not at his best is incredible, and its because his short game is one of the best Ive ever seen. https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/02/15/wm-phoenix-open-sahith-theegala-family-life-changing-finish/, Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic islands, Central America, Top 50 Classic Courses in Great Britain & Ireland, Top 50 Modern Courses in Great Britain & Ireland, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Bath I knew my family and friends would be out there. He was a three-time all-American golfer at Pepperdine and made his professional PGA Tour debut in June 2020 at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut. Everyone around Theegala has their moment when they knew he was special, and the natural talent was unlike anything theyd seen before. How do LIV Golf's TV ratings really compare to the PGA Tour? His father repeatedly told him, Its OK, while his mother wiped tears from his eyes. So, we learned then how to fade and draw a ball. His best finish on the PGA Tour came at the 2022 Travelers Championship where he ended T2nd. It means a lot, Theegala, who was a sponsors exemption at the WM Phoenix Open, said of the support from his family. He also does so at one of the most tumultuous times in history, as the PGA Tours restricted environment has been infiltrated by positive tests for the coronavirus among golfers and their caddies. Who are Sahith Theegalas Parents? If Theegala isnt on the golf course, theres a decent chance hes competing in another game chess. Since his PGA Tour debut last summer, hes jumped nearly 1,400 spots in the Official World Golf Ranking and is only going to continue to rise if he plays the way hes capable of playing. He grew up playing on public courses in Chino and calls El Prado Golf Course . His career-low round on the PGA Tour is a 62, which came at the 2022 American Express. Pepperdine Coach Michael Beard was summoned from the clubhouse to see what his young star was doing, and was shocked to see Theegala get to the first tee, take out a handful of irons and swing left-handed. His birth name is Sahith Theegala. They proceeded to chipping, and Theegala stabbed at those, but they all either went in or ended up right beside the cup. Kurt Kitayama took advantage of Jon Rahm's struggles on Friday, shooting a 4-under 68 to grab a two-shot lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Hell definitely just hit, like, shots with a ton of curve in his warm-up, Smith said. He diamond Bar won or shared the league title all four years and won CIF Southern Section titles in 2012 and 2013. When Sahith was less than 2 years old, Muralidhar would prop the toddler up on his knee to watch Lakers games on television. Born in Orange, California, in 1997, Theegala started playing golf at a very early age and won the Junior Golf World Championships at ages six, eight, and 10. His dream fourball would be Tiger Woods, his coach Michael Beard from Pepperdine, and his Dad, who doesn't know how to play golf but taught the game to Sahith. He was leading the WM Phoenix Open by a shot, but hes also a hoops head. Odom competed in the Collegiate Showcase at The Riviera Country Club on Monday, February 13 with the opportunity to earn the final . I just hit my second shot on 18, and right after I hit it, I flipped on the jersey, walked up to the green and hit both my putts in it. How much so? NAPLES, Fla. -- Sahith Theegala made a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole Sunday as he and Tom Hoge closed with a 10-under 62 in fourballs and became the first rookie team to win the QBE . Seemingly everyone who has played with him or seen him play has a story, and the plot follows the same script: Theegala escapes from a near-impossible. He was the Sierra Leagues Athlete of the Year as a senior and the League MVP as a junior. His Major debut also came in 2017 after he qualified for the US Open at Erin Hills. We always love to meet each other.. Love to see him on the TOP of GOLF ??. I played 33 holes with Phil [Mickelson] on Sunday, and obviously thats something Im never going to forget as a just-turned 19-year-old in college. Hes very comfortable with who he is.. We got an Escalade, and this thing is so sick! Or Ill be like, Dude, nice shoes, and hes like, Yeah, they were just sitting in my locker. Maybe it was his underdog story of a rookie playing on a sponsors exemption, or the look of wide-eyed wonder on his bearded face, or the way his cool name rolls off the tongue, but the raucous galleries at the frat-house-party-like WM Phoenix Open grabbed ahold of Sahith Theegala last weekend and wouldnt let go. It went left and trickled into the water. I could hardly play the practice round. I think theres kind of a stereotype people have that Indians arent great athletes, because theyre arent seen a lot in American sports. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? Sahith Theegala was born on December 4, 1997. Smith is still not sure if he does it to keep his body guessing, just for fun or a challenge or for a specific reason, but its a much more fun range session to watch than the robotic mix of lasers that he sees from the pros next to him. 13-16, holing a 15-footer from the fringe on the stadium par-3 16th. The two sports we watched were golf and basketball, and Ive been a Lakers fan since I can remember. He was the 2010 Junior Masters Champion. I say, Have fun. Why would I say Good luck? You already did your work on the range. He put everything that he could into me. As a result he has always been the one family and friends come to for buying advice and tips. Sahith Theegala is the son of Karuna Theegala and Muralidhar Theegala. But he destroyed me, so he kind of got me back into chess, and that happened to be the year I injured my wrist too, so I wasnt able to play any sports, so I was sitting indoors all day just trying to get better at chess. Murli Theegala, Sahith's father, seems like the nicest, most positive and supportive dad, with a lovely onscreen energy. He finished in the top 20 in each of the eight tournaments in which he played and had six top-10s, including two wins. TheHaskins Awardis presented annually by theHaskins Commission to honor the most outstanding collegiate golfer in the United States, and theBen Hogan Awardis an annual prize given by Friends of Golf and theGolf Coaches Association of America, since 1990, to the bestcollegegolfplayer in theUnited States. ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. He now lives in Spring, Texas, just north of Houston. Players had until 5 p.m. But his ball hit a knoll 20 yards short of the green, kicked hard to the left and went into the water. Its a trait Muralidhar has seen since Sahith was old enough to play sports. Gregory Odom Jr. of Howard University, the 2023 Collegiate Showcase Pathway Player, pulled hard but finished in a tie for third place with a round of 1-over-par 72. Sahith Theegalas Instagram handle is @srtheegala. I grew up watching Kobe and the Lakers with my dad. Theegala and Watkins found that bond early in high school, too, over their shared love of not only the Lakers but Theegalas favorite Laker Kobe Bryant. Sahith Theegala Parents & Nationality:-Sahith Theegala is an American professional golfer who plays in the PGA Tour. Well before he was a three-time All-American golfer at Pepperdine and long before he made his professional PGA Tour debut this past week at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn., Theegala was a 10-year-old public course golfer trying to figure out fast greens. Ans. Before a round, his father has one piece of advice for Sahith: I dont ever say Good luck, or Play well, Murli said. So we want to tell you he is a professional Journalistalong with being a singer so his earnings are very good. Of the 156 golfers competing in the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, 23-year-old Sahith Theegala obviously isn't the biggest name in the field. But when it was his time to tee off, the right-handed Theegala smashed a beautiful left-to-right fade in the narrow gap between a rock outcropping and a canyon. As a junior in 2017-18, Theegala led the Waves in stroke average (70.86), earned his second victory, was an All-WCC First Team selection for the third consecutive year, and was again named a third-team All-American. I was asking him how his short game is so put together, and he basically said nothing is mechanics-based, Cootes said. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. His brother flew in from New Jersey where hes a student at Seton Hall @tpcscottsdale @golfweek pic.twitter.com/gV2uP55qUi, Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak) February 13, 2022. Thats what keeps him in it so much.. I think its pretty cool that I could have a chance to represent my culture on a big stage.. Copyright 2023 PGA TOUR, Inc. All rights reserved. 12. Sahith Theegala was born on December 4, 1997. NFL Player Damar Hamlin in Critical Condition after Collapsing on Field, Legendary Designer Vivienne Westwood Dies Aged 81, 10 Female IAS Officers who can inspire us. Sahith Theegala is starting his PGA Tour career just as the coronavirus infiltrated pro golfs caravan. Similarly, Sahith shares an Indian-American ethnicity. Sahith Theegala has started his career at an early age. By Sapana Bajracharya July 21, 2022 02:35 PM; Sahith Theegala is a professional golfer from United States. And theres this. Everyone raves about Theegalas short game and iron play, but his demeanor on the course is an equal weapon, according to those close to him. His caddie Carl Smith, who recruited him when he was an assistant coach at Pepperdine, can only shake his head when he thinks about Theegalas escape on the drivable par-4 15th in the second round of last falls Shriners Childrens Open. In India, Muralidhar was a standout cricket and soccer player. "I got off to a pretty hot start . He would also birdie the 18th hole on his way to . Sahith Theegala is an American professional golfer. Seemingly everyone who has played with him or seen him play has a story, and the plot follows the same script: Theegala escapes from a near-impossible situation. Roy Cootes, Theegalas best friend and teammate at Pepperdine, said hes seen some crazy escapes from his buddy, but none left him speechless as much as what he saw in a practice round in Las Vegas one day at Southern Highlands Golf Club. Chants of THEE-GAL-A! The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. We talk about basketball all the time because I follow basketball and the Lakers a lot, Smith said. At the first tournament he qualified for as a college freshman, Theegala had warmed up terribly on the driving range, struck by a case of nerves. 20. Find the latest Bollywood News and Celebrity Gossips from Latest In Bollywood. He is a graduate of Swansea University where he studied History and American Studies, and he has been a part of the Golf Monthly team since December 2017. Just playing with top 10-20 guys in the world, seeing how they do their job and learning from it. 14. Id have been happy if itd just gone in the bunker, and he hits it to 2 feet.. In addition, Theegala holds an American nationality. This kid can flat-out play. He still got up-and-down for par. But the eighth hole had been a trouble spot, with two bogeys in his first three rounds. Inside the ropes, if Theegala is chatting away with his caddie, its likely not about golf but instead his beloved Los Angeles Lakers. He can be reached by email at theo.mackie@gannett.com and on Twitter @theo_mackie. Afterward, Theegala was asked about the finish to his first round on Friday morning, when he had played two holes and bogeyed both. This is a PGA TOUR event, the first time I see him with his card, and hes chipping at the putting green, and he shanks one 30 yards, dead shank into the houses on his first chip, Watkins recalled. Sunday followed much of the same trend. Named a first-team All-American, Theegala also became just the fifth player in history to win the Fred Haskins Award, the Ben Hogan Award, and the Jack Nicklaus Award. Muralidhar, though, provided the necessary context. This shot from the exciting prospect happened at the 18th hole at Tiburn Golf. THEE-GAL-A! filled the desert course at TPC Scottsdale, where the former Diamond Bar High School and Pepperdine University star stood atop the leaderboard for most of the four-day event and seemed on the verge of his first PGA Tour win before disaster struck on the penultimate hole. What is Jim Nantzs career lowlight?' 2. Personal life [ edit] His longtime coach Rick Hunters favorite escape courtesy of a short game that he thinks has been world-class for eight to 10 years came at the Genesis Invitational in 2017. He then went on to play four seasons on the varsity golf team at Diamond Bar High School and was an All-Sierra League first-team selection all four years, also leading his team to a league title every year. I definitely think that Asian heritage part is a big part of why Ive reached this point.. He likes courses where you can play out of the trees, Beard said. USA Today Adam Hadwin and Harry Higgs matched Koepka, also the 2015 winner, at 66. Now we are going to about Sahith Theegalas net worth. Let him tell you about adult film, 'It's f----- hard': Jon Rahm comes back to Earth at brutal Bay Hill, 'The fact that Im even on the PGA Tour is pretty absurd': Pro opens up after making Tour Championship, Rocket Mortgage Classic expert picks: 4 wagers that we really like this week, 'I'm just doing whatever': This pro's putting approach is chaotic (but surprisingly effective! Now we are going to about Sahith Theegalas net worth. POINTS Golf Monthly is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. He then hit a 6-iron onto the par-5 green and two-putted for birdie to start his collegiate career. Hes amazing at recovery shots. So he decided to shake them off by intentionally hitting even worse shots. Sahith went to one of the Private School High schools to complete his high school study. Hell hit like three or four straight 5-irons that cut 30 yards then hit a driver with a high hook. For Hunter, it was when he came to him as a 6-year-old for his first lesson. Hes genuine, and it shows how he carries himself. Sahith Theegala hits his tee shot on Friday on the 8th hole at TPC Scottsdale. Sahith Theegala is an American professional golfer. Theegala in the past has acknowledged that he is more of a feel type of player and has never been into the mechanics as much as other players. Seans net worth is $ 1 million. He graduated from Diamond Bar High School in Diamond Bar, California, in 2015, the same school that produced the PGA TOURs Kevin Na (2001). Most things are low-key with Theegala. Born in Orange, California, Sahith is the son of Karuna and Muralidhar Theegala. Actually, it's likely the vast majority of people tuning in have never even heard of him. Never, though, had he experienced a moment like this weekend, when he quickly became a cult hero at TPC Scottsdale. 4 player in the world, Patrick Cantlay, was lining up his par putt on the reachable . He had won 8 Amature PGA tournaments and became Australian Master of the Amateurs in 2020. 2. It wasnt uncommon for him to drive it through the fairway intentionally on the first hole, so his second shot could be around a tree just because thats him and thats what he practiced, and he had that shot in his bag, Watkins said with a laugh. Whilst at Pepperdine, Theegala was named as a three-time All American and won the 2020 Haskins Award and the Ben Hogan Award in the same year. Shanks zipped by competitors trying to prepare, and chunks of grass and dirt barely got out of his shadow. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. Sahith Theegala stood beside the 17th tee box at TPC Scottsdale late Saturday afternoon. Golfer Sahith Theegala has earned $2,735,027 in career earnings. 13. Theegala was close to crying again in January when he finished off a college win at the Southwestern Invitational wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey over his collared shirt, two days after Bryants fatal helicopter crash. A native of East Lyme, Conn., and a graduate of Cal State Fullerton, he began writing for The Times in 1981. He holds American nationality. 9. He took birth in Orange, California, U.S. Any back-related abnormality obviously isnt a good thing for any golfer, but Theegala has found a way to make it work. Im definitely very proud of my background and my Indian heritage, Theegala said. Ryan Masajedi Wikipedia states he is a highly acclaimed volleyball coach who has significantly contributed to the sport. As an amateur golfer, Theegala won the Australian Master of the Amateurs in January 2020, the 2019 SGCA Amateur Championship, the 2017 Sahalee Players Championship, the 2017 Morse Cup with the Southern California Golf Association at the Pacific Coast Amateur Championship. He has a story. The Players Championship will be contested next week without its biggest draw. If you want to say thats a bit like the player he was honoring, go for it. Two summers ago, Theegala was making his second . Its a difficult, multi-level putt that requires a deft touch to even get close to the hole. Its literally a goat track. He can hit it all over the map, and he can shoot the exact same score as if he was striping it. But when Im around my friends and other golfers, its not something that I think about.. Woodss rise had been predicted to prompt an influx of golfers from more diverse backgrounds whether they were recreational players or pros, but 23 years later Woods and Varner are the only African-American golfers ranked in the top 200. Its horrible, Beard said, adding that Theegala would play lots of tournaments to practice on better courses. Theo Mackie covers Arizona high school sports and Phoenix Rising FC. Theegala says he hopes to extend his coming-out party for another weekend when he tees off Thursday in in the opening round of the Genesis Invitational at the Riviera Country Club, the historic Pacific Palisades course where he won the Collegiate Showcase in 2017, earning an exemption into the tournament that year. Besides, he has his birthday celebration on December 4 each year. His parents often follow him in tournaments. Mamba himself might be proud of this answer. "I definitely think that Asian heritage part is . In the big picture, that means Theegala wont get a two-year exemption to automatically retain his PGA Tour card. Indian-American golfer Sahith Theegala is of Asian heritage. Sahith Theegala age is 23 years old. The No. With that all in mind, and the knowledge that Theegala is a 24-year-old rook on Tour who still lives at home with Mom and Dad, youre right to wonder how hell hold up with Brooksie, Patty Ice, an Olympic gold medalist, bananas and a monkey hounding him. Sahith is graduated from Pepperdine University and named three-time NCAA All-American. Theegala rarely, if ever, hits a straight shot, and that started when he was just 7 as Rick Hunter tells it. Sahith Theegala, a professional golfer in the United States, was born on December 4, 1997, to Indian parents in Orange, California. He currently lives in Chino Hills, California. Other notable alums from the school include Major League Baseballs Jim Edmonds, soccers Alex Morgan and the NBAs Keith Van Horn. 3. He knew it, I knew it and his parents knew from a very young age that he was born to be a TOUR player, Hunter said. Speaking to the PGA Tour Theegala said: "I learned chess when I was a young kid, but I didnt play for 10 years in between there. So that was the best, the gorilla chasing the bananas.. If his swing feels off, he just kind of knows, I can salvage something today. Ive seen him turn a lot of rounds that should have been 73s or 74s into 1- or 2-under, Smith said. Not only was this the best performance of Sahiths young career, but he earned 145 FedEx Cup points a significant step towards staying on tour next year. Sahith went. Not a single par and four birdies to finish with. Though he admitted to being "a little bit star-struck" when he teed off with PGA stars Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka on. Both are from Highland Park High in Texas. Youll never meet anyone who doesnt like him. He had a highly successful collegiate career at Pepperdine, winning every major award there is to win in 2020, although his final season was unfortunately cut short due to COVID-19. Theegala judges it perfectly, leaving himself with a tap-in for par. In a 27-year teaching and coaching career, Watkins says Theegala is easily one of the most humble kids he has ever coached or taught. Sahith Theegala World number 31 Statistics 31st Current OWGR Rank 30th Best OWGR Rank 2.5229 Average Points 131.18825 Total Points 52 Divisor 58 Actual Events Played EventsForm GuideBest Performances Download Player's Ranking History Download Player's Strokes Gained Counting Events EVENT TOUR WEEK YEAR FINISH Pos. WM Phoenix Open: Spurred by family support, Sahith Theegala records life-changing finish. But he came back strong as a fifth-year senior, setting a school record with a 69.04 scoring average. So we want to tell you he is a professional Journalist. Sahith Reddy Theegala Retweeted. Even though he didnt win, hell take so much from it, Beard said. I definitely have a lot of pride in being an Indian golfer, Theegala said. Smith has seen so many ridiculous escapes from wayward tee shots that hes just had to learn to trust Theegala when he wants to hit a recovery shot that he thinks is too risky or difficult.