"Your intuition as a golfer is very rarely wrong" - Sahith Theegala details emotion behind self-reporting a two-stroke penalty
Sahith Theegala self-reported a two-stroke penalty during the third round of the 2024 Tour Championship on Saturday, August 31. The American golfer was performing well, entering the third round tied for fourth place. However, on the third hole, his club touched the sand during his backswing.
Theegala immediately called the officials and reported the penalty. Although there was no clear footage of him hitting the sand, he admitted that he saw the club make contact. As a result, Theegala was assessed a two-stroke penalty, moving his score from 13-under to 11-under.
Following the round, in an interview with NBC, Theegala opened up about the penalty, acknowledging that he saw the club hitting the sand. He stated (via PGA Tour on X):
"I had a very unique lie on the 3, my pitch mark hit in the face of the bunker, and the ball rolled up and back, right at the top of the pitch mark. So it's a lie that we never usually have to practice and you know I have my ball and I pick up my club normally and my irons shots and I went through the same process. I didn't feel it but I saw something and I took it back in my back forth and I think I saw some sand move and I was pretty sure. I was 90 percent sure that I saw some sand move."
In addition, Theegala mentioned that there was no clear footage of the incident but emphasized that his "intuition as a golfer is very rarely wrong." He added:
"For sure there was no clear footage of it happening. I would love to see a clear video of me moving the sand but I think...I really think I moved the sand..........and you know someone would have asked me, 'You moved the sand?" I said, "Yes" because I saw it. I think I saw it and we play a lot of golf and your intuition as a golfer is very rarely wrong."
Despite the penalty, Sahith Theegala finished the third round with a 5-under 66. Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler remains in the lead at 26-under par heading into the final round on Sunday, September 1, at East Lake Golf Club.
A look into Sahith Theegala's performance at 2024 Tour Championship
Sahith Theegala started the third round of the 2024 Tour Championship with a par on the first hole. He made a birdie on the second but encountered trouble on the par-4 third hole. He received a two-stroke penalty on the hole and ended up making a double bogey. However, despite the challenges, Theegala maintained his momentum on the back nine.
He shot back-to-back birdies on the 11th and 12th holes, followed by a bogey on the 13th. Sahith Theegala was impressive on the next five holes, making consecutive birdies and finishing with a score of 5-under 66.
After three rounds of the 2024 Tour Championship, Theegala currently stands in third place. He shot a 67 in the first round and a 66 in the second. The final round of the Tour Championship is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 1.