Theegala fires 69 to sit tied-ninth at Cadillac Championship; Bhatia in tied-15th
Synopsis
Theegala made a bold start at Doral with three birdies in five holes, though a mid-round wobble kept him four shots back. Bhatia was cruising toward the top 10 until a costly 18th-hole water hazard cost him dearly. Meanwhile, Cameron Young's bogey-free 64 set a commanding pace at the $20 million event.
Key Takeaways
Sahith Theegala fired 3-under 69 to sit tied-ninth at the Cadillac Championship on 1 May .
Akshay Bhatia carded 2-under 70 to finish tied-15th after a late bogey on the 18th .
Cameron Young leads at 8-under 64 , one shot clear of Jordan Spieth and Alex Smalley at 7-under .
1 Scottie Scheffler finished at 1-under after a mixed opening round.
Theegala collected three birdies in his first five holes before settling into a steady pace.
Sahith Theegala delivered a composed opening round to position himself inside the top 10 at the Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral, while fellow Indian Akshay Bhatia made an encouraging start on the demanding Blue Monster course in Miami on 1 May.
Theegala fired a 3-under 69 to finish tied-ninth after round one, four shots behind leader Cameron Young, who set the pace with a flawless 8-under 64 at the $20 million event. Bhatia carded a 2-under 70 to be tied-15th, while Indo-Canadian Sudarshan Yellamaraju opened with a 74 to sit tied-52nd.
Theegala's aggressive start
Theegala began with intent, collecting three birdies within his first five holes to quickly climb the leaderboard. His hot start included gains on the par-4 second, par-3 third, and par-4 fifth, with additional birdies following on the par-5 10th and par-3 15th. Although momentum slowed mid-round after dropped shots on the 11th and 13th holes, he maintained composure to finish in the red.
Bhatia's late stumble
Bhatia appeared poised for a top-10 finish, standing at 3-under through 17 holes, before a costly mistake on the 18th derailed his round. After finding water off the tee, he carded a bogey that dropped him into a tie for 15th. The setback marked a frustrating close to an otherwise solid day.
Young's flawless lead
Cameron Young produced a bogey-free masterclass, highlighted by precise iron play and a hot putter. He rolled in several lengthy birdie putts to establish an 8-under 64 and hold a one-shot advantage over Jordan Spieth and Alex Smalley, both at 7-under. Spieth's round featured an eagle on the par-5 eighth, offsetting a couple of back-nine bogeys.
Scheffler's mixed opening
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler had a mixed day, starting brightly with three early birdies before slipping back with consecutive bogeys on the 10th and 11th holes to finish at 1-under. The result leaves him well back of the leaders heading into round two.
Chasing pack tightens
Canada's Nick Taylor sits fourth at 6-under 66, while Nico Echavarria, a winner earlier this season at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches, opened with a 67. Gary Woodland is also within striking distance after a 68. Theegala will tee off his second round on Friday alongside Taylor Pendrith as he aims to build on his promising start.
Point of View
But the mid-round fade—two dropped shots in three holes—hints at concentration lapses that have cost him throughout the season. Bhatia's 18th-hole mistake is the kind of margin-for-error loss that separates contenders from winners at this level. Young's bogey-free round and hot putter suggest he's found rhythm at precisely the right moment in a crowded field.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Sahith Theegala's score at the Cadillac Championship?
Theegala carded a 3-under 69 to finish tied-ninth after round one, four shots behind leader Cameron Young.
How did Akshay Bhatia's opening round end?
Bhatia shot 2-under 70 to be tied-15th. He was 3-under through 17 holes but found water off the tee on the 18th, resulting in a bogey that dropped him back.
Who leads the Cadillac Championship after round one?
Cameron Young leads at 8-under 64 with a bogey-free round. He holds a one-shot advantage over Jordan Spieth and Alex Smalley, both at 7-under.
How did Scottie Scheffler perform in the opening round?
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler had a mixed day, starting with three early birdies before consecutive bogeys on the 10th and 11th left him at 1-under, well back of the leaders.
