Can Theegala Secure a Playoff Spot While Bhatia Aims for Ranking Improvement?

Blaine, July 23 (NationPress) Akshay Bhatia is determined to elevate his standing from the current 46th position on the FedExCup points list. For Sahith Theegala, who made his return last week at the Open, the 3M Open represents one of the final two opportunities to leap into the Top-70 for the 2025 Playoffs.

Bhatia currently ranks 46th on the points list and 38th in global standings, while Theegala holds the 50th spot in world rankings. Both players have full Tour status after finishing in the Top-30 at the 2024 Tour Championship, yet they are eager to enhance their rankings to qualify for next season's $20M Signature events.

Theegala intends to participate in several Fall Season events following the Playoffs. At this moment, he needs either a win or a Top-3 finish in both events to have a shot at the Play-offs.

Theegala will tee off alongside Maverick McNealy, the top-ranked player in the field, as well as Max Homa, who is also vying for a playoff spot. Bhatia will be paired with William Mouw and Jake Knapp.

Last year, Theegala achieved a Tied-sixth finish at the 3M Open, indicating the course's compatibility with his playstyle. He did, however, miss the cut on three previous occasions. In contrast, Bhatia finished T-64 in his inaugural appearance at the event last year.

In his last five outings, Bhatia has finished in the Top-30 three times, including at the Open, but he is still working towards the form that earned him a third-place finish at the PLAYERS Championship.

Theegala has struggled recently, missing his last two cuts, including at the Open. His best performance this year was a T-17 finish at the Genesis in February, followed by another T-17 at the Zurich Classic with Indo-British player Aaron Rai.

The Indian-American duo is also aiming to improve their rankings to earn invites to Tiger Woods’ prestigious Top-20 event, the Hero World Challenge, which both participated in last year, finishing fourth as Scottie Scheffler claimed victory for the second time.

With the four majors, eight Signature Events, the PLAYERS Championship, and various additional competitions completed, only two tournaments remain before the Playoffs commence: the 3M Open and the Wyndham Championship.

Among the 156 competitors at the 3M Open, many players who are currently outside the playoff bubble are hoping to perform well in these last two weeks, and Theegala is one of them.

Maverick McNealy returns to the 3M Open as the highest-ranked golfer in the field, also seeking a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team. McNealy secured a T3 finish last year in Minnesota and has recorded six top-10 finishes this season.

Following an impressive stint in Europe, Chris Gotterup is back in the U.S. with momentum, having won the Genesis Scottish Open and finishing solo third at the Open Championship. Meanwhile, Jhonattan Vegas returns to the 3M Open aiming to achieve back-to-back victories, a first in the tournament's history.

Other notable players include Sam Burns (22nd on FedExCup), Wyndham Clark (25th), Gotterup (23rd), and Sungjae Im (29th).