Phoenix Open: Sponsor’s exemption to sole leader, that’s Sahith Theegala

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Sahith Theegala - TheGolfingHub
Sahith Theegala seeks to become the first Sponsor Exemption to win on the PGA Tour since Martin Laird at the 2020 Shriners Children’s Open. Photo: detroitnews.com

Sahith Theegala posts 2-under 69 to secure 54-hole lead heading into the final round of the WM Phoenix Open. He is 0-for-1 to date with the 54-hole lead/co-lead (2021 Sanderson Farms Championship/T8).

He seeks to become the first Sponsor Exemption to win on the PGA Tour since Martin Laird (2020 Shriners Children’s Open).

Related Content: Sahith Theegala makes the most of family support in Phoenix

He earned his way to the Tour this season by virtue of the Top-50 from the 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour category.

Claimed three top-10 finishes in 11 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2021, highlighted by a T4 at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship.

The PGA Tour rookie made his Tour debut as an amateur at 2017 Genesis Invitational (T49) after winning the Collegiate Showcase to earn a spot in the field.

Is making his 24th career start on Tour and 22nd as a professional; lone top-10 finish (T8) came earlier this season at the Sanderson Farms Championship, where he led by a stroke after three rounds.

 

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Defending champion Brooks Koepka is one off the lead entering Sunday; with a win, would become the seventh player to successfully defend a WM Phoenix Open title; also looks to become the first player to successfully defend a Tour title since Viktor Hovland earlier this season at the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba.

Scottie Scheffler (T3) had the round of the week, tying the back nine record (29) at TPC Scottsdale en-route a 9-under 62; becomes the seventh player to shoot 29 on the back nine (most recent: Russell Henley/R2/2021). It marks his fifth career round of 62 or better hit all 18 greens in regulation for the first time in his career on Tour (241st round).

Sam Ryder used a 54-degree wedge from 124 yards at the par-3 16th to make his first ace on the PGA Tour; first hole-in-one on No. 16 since 2015 (Francesco Molinari/R3).

 

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Patrick Cantlay (T3) looks to become the first player to win the WM Phoenix Open in his debut since Brooks Koepka (2015). He has the second-longest current streak of rounds at par or better on Tour (30, two behind Jon Rahm’s 32).

Xander Schauffele (T3) seeks to become the first player to win on the PGA Tour after finishing runner-up the year prior since Dustin Johnson at the 2020 Masters Tournament (T2/2019).

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