Sahith Theegala shows class by calling penalty on himself despite millions being at stake

Despite the Tour Championship winner set to win $25 million, Sahith Theegala showed his class by admitting to course officials a mistake he committed with the grass, which set him back two shots

As he found himself in the bunker on the third hole of the third round on Saturday, Theegala was preparing to take a shot to get him in a better position. In doing so, he accidentally hit sand around his ball, and rather than just playing off the situation, the American golfer elected to let officials know what happened.

Speaking with NBC Sports, Theegala explained what happened in the bunker and gave his thoughts on the situation. “You know, I had a very unique lie on three,” said the PGA Tour star. “My pitch mark hit in the face of the bunker, my ball rolled up and then it rolled back right on top of the pitch mark.

Rory McIlroy showed true colors with comments on Ludvig Aberg with $25m prize on the line
Jordan Spieth issues update after nightmare PGA season came to an end
“So, it’s a lie that we never usually have or practice. And I hover my ball and I pick up my club normally on my iron shots and on that one, I went through the same process. And I didn’t feel it, but I saw something right as I took it back in my peripheral. I thought I saw some sand move and I was pretty sure of it.

 

“I’d say 90 percent sure that I saw some sand move. And I notified Xander [Schauffele] right away because I was just like, ‘I should probably tell them and call the rules official over.’ Me and Xander thought that because there’s no intent and, if anything, I brushed a few grains of sand, that it would be no problem, like no penalty or anything.”

After his round was through, the 26-year-old spoke with an official and explained what would happen to him, despite being truthful and honest about moving sand in the bunker. “They knew the rule right away, that it’s a two-shot penalty because it was changing the lie in the play of the ball, like in the direct play of the ball,” he added.

Sahith Theegala alerted officials after stroking sand during his backswing ( Image: Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
“And then it happened to be the direct play of the backswing. Unfortunately, there was no clear footage of it happening – I would have loved to have seen a clear video of me moving the sand but I think I really moved the sand.

“It’s just a bummer there’s not clear footage and if someone were to ask me, ‘Did you move the sand?’ I’d say yes because I saw it. I thought I saw it and we played a lot of golf and your intuition as a golfer is very rarely wrong.”

Despite having the two-shot penalty, the American still shot 66, sinking five straight birdies to end the round at 17 under. After his round, Theegala shared more of his thought process with Golf Digest as he explained the situation in more detail.

“If I went back after the round, looked that up and found out that it was a two-shot penalty, I would be DQ’d right now. So I am glad I brought it up right away,” Theegala shared. “I know the rules of golf a little bit better now. There is a lot of silly stuff you can do in the bunker. You can chuck a club in the bunker… you can use your golf club as a stand in the bunker. As long as it’s not right next to your ball.”

Although he didn’t seem aggravated by the situation, he explained how he failed to keep his emotions in check after being told of his two-stroke punishment. “It was tough. I got very upset,” Theegala admitted.

“I don’t know if the cameras saw that, but I chucked my water bottle. Just in the moment. I wear my emotions on my sleeve. Tough to not get upset about that. I made a huge par on 4. Thought that saved my round
Despite the Tour Championship winner set to win $25 million, Sahith Theegala showed his class by admitting to course officials a mistake he committed with the grass, which set him back two shots

As he found himself in the bunker on the third hole of the third round on Saturday, Theegala was preparing to take a shot to get him in a better position. In doing so, he accidentally hit sand around his ball, and rather than just playing off the situation, the American golfer elected to let officials know what happened.

Speaking with NBC Sports, Theegala explained what happened in the bunker and gave his thoughts on the situation. “You know, I had a very unique lie on three,” said the PGA Tour star. “My pitch mark hit in the face of the bunker, my ball rolled up and then it rolled back right on top of the pitch mark.

Rory McIlroy showed true colors with comments on Ludvig Aberg with $25m prize on the line
Jordan Spieth issues update after nightmare PGA season came to an end
“So, it’s a lie that we never usually have or practice. And I hover my ball and I pick up my club normally on my iron shots and on that one, I went through the same process. And I didn’t feel it, but I saw something right as I took it back in my peripheral. I thought I saw some sand move and I was pretty sure of it.

 

“I’d say 90 percent sure that I saw some sand move. And I notified Xander [Schauffele] right away because I was just like, ‘I should probably tell them and call the rules official over.’ Me and Xander thought that because there’s no intent and, if anything, I brushed a few grains of sand, that it would be no problem, like no penalty or anything.”

After his round was through, the 26-year-old spoke with an official and explained what would happen to him, despite being truthful and honest about moving sand in the bunker. “They knew the rule right away, that it’s a two-shot penalty because it was changing the lie in the play of the ball, like in the direct play of the ball,” he added.

Sahith Theegala alerted officials after stroking sand during his backswing ( Image: Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
“And then it happened to be the direct play of the backswing. Unfortunately, there was no clear footage of it happening – I would have loved to have seen a clear video of me moving the sand but I think I really moved the sand.

“It’s just a bummer there’s not clear footage and if someone were to ask me, ‘Did you move the sand?’ I’d say yes because I saw it. I thought I saw it and we played a lot of golf and your intuition as a golfer is very rarely wrong.”

Despite having the two-shot penalty, the American still shot 66, sinking five straight birdies to end the round at 17 under. After his round, Theegala shared more of his thought process with Golf Digest as he explained the situation in more detail.

“If I went back after the round, looked that up and found out that it was a two-shot penalty, I would be DQ’d right now. So I am glad I brought it up right away,” Theegala shared. “I know the rules of golf a little bit better now. There is a lot of silly stuff you can do in the bunker. You can chuck a club in the bunker… you can use your golf club as a stand in the bunker. As long as it’s not right next to your ball.”

Although he didn’t seem aggravated by the situation, he explained how he failed to keep his emotions in check after being told of his two-stroke punishment. “It was tough. I got very upset,” Theegala admitted.

“I don’t know if the cameras saw that, but I chucked my water bottle. Just in the moment. I wear my emotions on my sleeve. Tough to not get upset about that. I made a huge par on 4. Thought that saved my round