There is no Indian at the 150th Open at the Old Course in St. Andrews. But the Indians who had come to milestone Major gladly embraced an Indian American, who has paid back that adulation in more than ample measure. His brand of fearless golf, the shot making skills and a disarming smile and demeanour will keep bringing in tons of fans.
Sahith Theegala, 24, whose parents are of Indian origins, shot 69-68 and at 7-under for 36 holes he was up there in Top-10.
Asked how he had felt so far, “Yeah, I’ve just had a ton of fun, even the last two days being on the course. It’s a blast. Major championship golf is insane. On top of it, to be here is doubly insane.”
He loves every moment of his life, and it shows in his golf.
Theegala, who has missed winning at least two PGA Tour titles by the slenderest of margins and almost at the post, was not even in the field 10 days ago. Yet, he had made up his mind to come to St. Andrews for the 150th edition of the Open, to play which he was ready to give an arm and more.
“I was here nine, ten years ago,” said one of the rising stars on the PGA Tour, where he’s twice come close to landing a maiden victory this season.
“I played Carnoustie, and I’m like this is the hardest course I ever played. I birdied 18 to break 90, shot 89. But these conditions are so firm, so much fun. I love it.”
Theegala, whose father moved from India to the US in 1987, sits six shots off the lead in the season’s final major after opening with rounds of 69-68.
He only got into the field due to withdrawals. “To get that call and not be an alternate, to relieve some of the anxiety, it was awesome,” he admitted.
“Especially because of the magnitude of the event and not only my first Open, but St Andrews, the 150th.
“So I was very, very excited. It honestly took me a couple days to kind of settle down here. I got here, and I was almost too excited.
“I was walking the course on Monday even, and I wasn’t really focusing in paying attention on the prep work. I’ve just had a ton of fun, even the last two days being on the course. It’s a blast.”
He’s particularly enjoying the challenge of facing monster putts on the huge double greens on the Old Course. “I love it, absolutely love it. It’s the best. You don’t get to do this anywhere else,” he said, smiling.
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