‘Focused on Surviving’: Sahith Theegala Admits His Distress Amid Severe Weather Threat at WM Phoenix Open

Sahith Theegala prefers “firm and fast conditions” on the greens. But there was no way he would get that at TPC Scottsdale. The 26-year-old disdained the cold, but making the best use of the hand he was dealt, Theegala carded 6-under 65 to take the lead after the first round was suspended due to darkness. 

The first day of the WM Phoenix Open was filled with unpredictability. The play was discontinued after heavy showers battered Arizona between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. It looked like that was the end of the day before the sun shone through the clouds. Once again, the first round resumed at 4.04 p.m. local time before getting called off due to low light. The leaderboard topper spoke candidly about the weather conditions.

Sahith Theegala was more focused on survival

During the break, the 2023 Fortinet Championship winner took shelter in his car because the locker room was too crowded. The rain, he said, worsened the condition a lot more. “It felt very close to really bad, just because of the cold. Honestly, all we were trying to do at that point was just stay dry and stay warm. I had my mitts, had my hand warmers,” the 26-year-old told the media persons after the first round. 

However, time passed quickly once the play resumed. “We were just so focused on surviving that I felt like the round, all of a sudden, got to hole 14 or 15 on my round and the horn blew. I didn’t even think about it, really. Just trudging along and trying to keep the grips dry and not miss the golf ball on a swing.” 

The sand bunkers turned into a pool. Preferred lies were already in effect, but the visuals were disturbing quipped Theegala. “I was hitting a bunker shot on 5 and, like, before, in between the hole and me is just like a pool of water. I don’t think I was going to land it in there, but it would have been nice to not have that visual.” Naturally, Theegala was relieved when the horn blew.

The wet ground also meant Theegala had to use 4-irons more often, which is not the case at regular times. The Pepperdine alum added, “So, I think I hit four or five 4-irons into par-4s which is a lot of fun actually, we don’t do that often. But I was relieved.” Unfortunately, his relief might be short-lived. The second round will start at 9.20 a.m. EST, but the weather forecast won’t exactly lift up his spirit. 

How does the weather look for the second round?

The overcast condition is unlikely to change for the next few days. The hellish cold that Theegala was so bothered about will stay the same; the maximum temperature in Scottsdale will be near 50, while the minimum temperature could drop down to the 30s even.

Read More: After Collin Morikawa, Why Did 1X PGA Tour Champion Sahith Theegala Join the LAGC?

Theegala, however, might find a little of that much-needed relief tomorrow, as there is only a slight chance of rain. But Saturday will dampen his hopes further with a 70% chance of heavy showers. Sahith Theegala will perhaps look back to Pebble Beach’s first two rounds when umbrellas gave way to sunglasses despite weather reports to the contrary. Fingers crossed for the one-time PGA Tour winner.