Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, March 13 (NationPress) - Sahith Theegala showcased an outstanding performance on the first day of the Players Championship, finishing with a remarkable score of 5-under 67. Unfortunately, play was halted early due to darkness.

Sharing the top position on the leaderboard with Theegala were Maverick McNealy, Lee Hodges, Sepp Straka, and Austin Smotherman. It’s noteworthy that Smotherman was the only leader who had yet to complete his round, with one hole remaining.

The 28-year-old Theegala, who faced injury challenges last season, began his round on a high note, achieving three consecutive birdies on the front nine. His only blemish came on the ninth hole, where he lost a stroke after encountering difficulties in a bunker.

The highlight of his round occurred at the 12th hole, where he executed an incredible 99-yard wedge shot for eagle. He later secured another birdie on the 16th hole, allowing him to finish the day tied for the lead.

Reflecting on his eagle, Theegala remarked, “I had 99 yards to the pin, which was positioned on a small shelf. I usually go with a standard lob wedge, but I opted for a 54-degree to try and one-hop it up the slope. I hit it slightly skinny and to the right, but it got a nice bounce. For it to hit the pin and go in is pretty amazing. It’s a nice bonus.”

On his recovery from injury, he shared, “It felt great to start this year healthy. While I was fit in the fall, regaining my speed took time. Others with similar injuries advised me to be patient, as the body needs time to trust itself after an injury.”

After dropping out of the Top-100, Theegala has impressively recorded three Top-10 finishes this year.

Among other Indian-origin players, Akshay Bhatia, who recently won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, finished the day with a score of 1-under 71, placing him in a tie for 30th.

Sudarshan Yellamaraju was 1-over after 17 holes, positioned around T-52 when play paused, while Aaron Rai carded a 74, landing him in T-69.

Bhatia started strong with two birdies but faced a double bogey on the 14th hole. He finished the back nine at 1-under and recorded nine consecutive pars on the front nine.

The young American also confirmed his participation in the upcoming Hero Indian Open later this month, despite never having played in India before.

Scottie Scheffler, the world number one, ended with an even-par score, placing him T-40, while Rory McIlroy, ranked second in the world, struggled with a 2-over 74, putting him at T-69.

Tommy Fleetwood started well with a score of 3-under 69, securing a position in T-10.

In a disappointing turn, Collin Morikawa had to withdraw from the tournament due to injury after completing just one hole.