Did Sahith Theegala's Late Birdies Save Him at the RSM Classic?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sahith Theegala narrowly missed the cut at the RSM Classic.
- He posted an impressive 6-under 66 after an even par 70 in the first round.
- Andrew Novak leads the tournament with a strong performance.
- Doug Ghim shares a course record at the Seaside Course.
- The event highlights the competitive nature of the PGA Tour.
St. Simons Island, Nov 22 (NationPress) Indian-American golfer Sahith Theegala made an impressive attempt with five birdies in the final six holes but ultimately ended up just one stroke away from the cut line at the RSM Classic, the concluding event of the PGA Tour's Fall season. His first round was an even par 70 at the Seaside course, which was followed by an outstanding 6-under 66 at the Plantation course.
The 27-year-old Theegala, who has achieved two professional titles thus far, concluded his two rounds at 6-under, while the cut was set at 7-under. This meant he missed qualifying by a single stroke. Notably, he reached his highest-ever ranking of World No. 11 on June 9, 2024.
Andrew Novak capitalized on the more favorable weather on Friday, along with the absence of pressure that many faced during the PGA TOUR's season finale. He produced a remarkable 7-under 65 on the Plantation Course at Sea Island, securing a one-shot lead heading into the weekend.
Novak hasn't competed for three months, following the TOUR Championship, which marked a significant year for him. His wife welcomed their first child just two weeks prior. He followed up with scores of 61-65, putting him ahead of Stanford alumni Michael Thorbjornsen and Patrick Rodgers.
Theegala experienced a challenging opening day at The RSM Classic, the last event of the Fall season on the PGA Tour. After missing a considerable portion of the year due to injury, he shot an even par 70 and found himself tied for 125th place after day one at the Plantation Course at Sea Island. The tournament is hosted across two courses, including the Seaside course.
Beginning his round on the tenth hole, Theegala managed just one birdie on the seventh hole, his 16th of the day, but relinquished that with a bogey on the ninth, his final hole.
Doug Ghim narrowly missed a putt for 59 on a day characterized by calm weather and low scores, ultimately sharing the course record by posting a 10-under 60 at The RSM Classic.