Sahith Theegala explains why he called the 3M Open a ‘revenge week,’ says some of his rivals ‘would shy away’
Sahith Theegala called the 3M Open Championship a "revenge week" after a good start at the PGA Tour event. The American golfer began smoothly this week with a round of 5-under-66, boosting his confidence and his chances of winning the trophy.
Following the first round of the 3M Open, Theegala spoke about his mindset while playing in the tournament. The 26-year-old called it a revenge week as he wanted to come back to the venue and challenge himself.
Theegala has had a rough outing at TPC Twin Cities since making his debut at the event in 2020. He struggled with his game that year, missing the cut after shooting two rounds of 72. He played at the event again in 2022 but missed the cut once more after two rounds of 73. Even last year, he missed the cut at the 3M Open. However, he is looking forward to having a good outing this season.
Speaking of his game, Theegala said (via "Golf Channel" on YouTube):
"It's kind of like a revenge week for me. I just wanted to come back and see what I can do on the golf course that's beat me up pretty bad the last three years," he said [at 5:42].
He went on to add that the 3M Open is the only week where he doesn't stress much about the "score" but focuses on "beating the golf course." He said:
"This is probably the only week where I genuinely feel like I'm not even worried about the score. I just want to beat the golf course. I'm not even looking at other guys on the board; I don't really care what they shoot. I just want to feel like I've tackled this course. It's a stressful golf course, and it's a good start today. But it's playing soft and getable. I think a bunch of guys are going to shoot good rounds, and hopefully, the win firms it up."
"But I know there's going to be a lot more stressful shots, and I'm just going to try to get through it all. But it's fun; it's a different challenge. And I know some guys would shy away, but I have no problem taking it on if I fail, so be it. But I really don't want to let the course get the best of me again," he added. (5:53-6:40)
Notably, Theegala tied for sixth place after the first round of the 3M Open with a score of five-under. He played a bogey-free round to kick-start the event.
A look into Sahith Theegala's performance in the opening round of the 2024 3M Open
Theegala started his game at the 2024 3M Open on Thursday, July 25, with a round of 66. He began on the 10th hole with a birdie and then made pars on the next few holes.
Theegala shot a birdie on the 16th and another on the 18th. He maintained his strong play on the back nine, carding two more birdies on the 5th and 6th holes.
Jacob Bridgeman topped the leaderboard with a round of 8-under 63. Mackenzie Hughes secured the second spot, followed by Patrick Rodgers, Martin Trainer, and Andrew Novak, who are tied for third place. The tournament will conclude with the final round on Sunday, July 28.