Sahith Theegala Leads at The Players Championship Amidst Early Darkness

Sahith Theegala made a strong impression on the opening day of The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra, Florida, carding a 5-under 67 to share the lead. His performance included three birdies and a spectacular eagle shot. Other Indian-origin golfers also participated, with Akshay Bhatia confirming his entry into the upcoming Indian Open. The tournament saw mixed results for top players like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. Read on for more details about the tournament highlights and player performances.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 13, 2026, 15:53 IST

Theegala Takes Charge at TPC Sawgrass

Golfer Sahith Theegala showcased an outstanding performance during the first round of The Players Championship held in Ponte Vedra, Florida, USA. He recorded a score of 5-under 67, placing him at the top of the leaderboard alongside Maverick McNealy, Lee Hodges, Sepp Straka, and Austin Smotherman. Notably, Smotherman was the only leader who had yet to finish his round, with one hole remaining.

Highlights of Theegala's Round

The 28-year-old, who faced injury challenges last season, kicked off his round with three consecutive birdies on the front nine. His only blemish occurred at the ninth hole, where he lost a shot after encountering difficulties in a bunker. The highlight of his day was a remarkable 99-yard wedge shot for eagle on the 12th hole. He capped off his round with another birdie on the 16th hole, ending the day tied for the lead.

Reflecting on his eagle, Theegala remarked, "I had 99 yards. The pin was on a little shelf, so I usually use a stock lob wedge, but I opted for a 54-degree to try and one-hop it up the slope. I hit it a bit skinny and it came out slightly right, but I got a fortunate bounce. For it to hit the pin and go in was pretty cool. It’s a nice bonus."

Discussing his return from injury, he added, "It feels great to start this year healthy. I was fit in the fall, but regaining my speed took time. Others with similar injuries advised me to be patient, as the body takes time to trust itself after an injury."

Performance of Other Indian-Origin Golfers

After dropping out of the top-100, Theegala has achieved three Top-10 finishes this year. Other Indian-origin players included Akshay Bhatia, who recently won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, finishing with a score of 1-under 71, placing him T-30. Sudarshan Yellamaraju was 1-over through 17 holes, landing him around T-52 when play was suspended. Aaron Rai finished with a score of 74, putting him at T-69.

Bhatia to Compete in Indian Open

Bhatia started his round strong with two birdies but faced a double bogey on the 14th hole. After a birdie-bogey-birdie sequence, he completed the back nine at 1-under and recorded nine consecutive pars on the front nine. He has also confirmed his participation in the Indian Open later this month, despite never having played in India before.

Mixed Results for Top Players

World number one Scottie Scheffler finished with an even-par round, placing him T-40. Rory McIlroy, ranked second, struggled with a 2-over 74, landing him at T-69. Tommy Fleetwood had a strong start with a 3-under 69, good enough for T-10. Meanwhile, Collin Morikawa had to withdraw from the tournament due to injury after completing just one hole.