Sahith Theegala Begins RBC Heritage with 69; Bhatia Struggles

Synopsis

Sahith Theegala starts his RBC Heritage campaign strong with a 2-under 69, while fellow Indian players Akshay Bhatia and Sudarshan Yellamaraju face challenges. Can Theegala close the gap on leader Ludvig Åberg? Discover the full story here.

Key Takeaways

Sahith Theegala scored 2-under 69, tied for 27th.

Ludvig Åberg leads with a bogey-free 8-under 63.

Akshay Bhatia struggled with a 2-over 73.

Sudarshan Yellamaraju ended with a 3-over 74.

Defending champion Justin Thomas finished at 5-over 76.

Hilton Head Island (USA), April 17 (NationPress) Sahith Theegala kicked off his journey at the RBC Heritage with a commendable score of 2-under 69, placing him in a tie for 27th in the prestigious USD 20 million Signature event. He finds himself six shots behind the leading Swedish player, Ludvig Åberg. The round commenced on a high note for Theegala, who secured three birdies in his first four holes and a total of four in the initial seven.

In contrast, the other two Indian-origin players in the competition, Akshay Bhatia and Sudarshan Yellamaraju, had less favorable starts. Bhatia recorded a 2-over 73, tying him for 65th, while Yellamaraju ended with a 3-over 74, landing him in a tie for 70th.

Theegala's round began with consecutive birdies on the first two holes, but he faced a setback with a bogey on the third. He quickly rebounded, claiming another birdie on the fourth along with two more on the seventh and ninth, making it to 4-under at the turn.

The back nine, however, proved more demanding. Bogeys on the 10th, 11th, and 18th holes negated a single birdie on the 15th, leaving him with a 2-under score at the day's end.

Bhatia's performance included three bogeys and only one birdie, marking a challenging phase following The Players Championship, during which he missed cuts at both the Hero Indian Open and The Masters.

Yellamaraju faced difficulties right from the start with a triple bogey on his opening hole. Although he recovered with a birdie shortly after, a bogey on the 14th hole further hindered his progress, concluding the round at 3-over.

At the forefront of the leaderboard, Ludvig Åberg maintained his strong form, aiming for his third title on the PGA Tour. He delivered an impressive bogey-free 8-under 63 to secure a one-shot lead. Close competitors Harris English and Viktor Hovland both shot 7-under 64.

Scottie Scheffler, who recently finished as a runner-up at The Masters, returned a score of 3-under 68, putting him in a tie for 20th. FedEx Cup leader Cameron Young started with an even-par 71, placing him tied for 54th.

Defending champion Justin Thomas had a rough first round, finishing with a 5-over 76, leaving him in a tie for 80th on the leaderboard.

Point of View

It’s evident that Sahith Theegala’s strong start puts him in a favorable position, while Bhatia and Yellamaraju face hurdles. This event highlights the competitive nature of golf, especially among emerging talents from India. The leaderboard dynamics will be fascinating to watch as the tournament unfolds.

NationPress

6 Aug 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Sahith Theegala's score at the RBC Heritage?

Sahith Theegala scored a 2-under 69 in the first round of the RBC Heritage.

Who is leading the RBC Heritage?

Ludvig Åberg from Sweden is leading with a score of 8-under 63.

How did Akshay Bhatia perform?

Akshay Bhatia recorded a score of 2-over 73, placing him tied for 65th.

What challenges did Sudarshan Yellamaraju face?

Sudarshan Yellamaraju faced difficulties with a triple bogey on his opening hole, finishing with a score of 3-over 74.

What is the total prize money for the RBC Heritage?