As important as it is to have reliable fan support, one cannot deny that having great support impacts a golfer’s game more than we’d like to expect. And we think Sahith Theegala would know a thing or two about that. He has been making waves in the industry since his first PGA Tour win at the 2023 Fortinet Championship. His parents and his trusty caddie, Carl Smith are two major parts of his support system, and today, we will get to know his bagman a bit better.

Their on-course connection goes way back to Theegala’s college days at Pepperdine, where Smith was the assistant coach who recruited him. Talk about full circle, right? Theegala sure explains it as one. “And [Smith] actually ended up leaving to caddie right before I got there, so it kind of worked full circle that he actually caddied for me in the Korn Ferry Finals,” Theegala said previously.

Smith has been appointed as Theegala’s caddie as of 2024, and the fans believe the golfer’s game has been improved massively. Before teaming up with Theegala, Smith worked with other golfers like Andrew Putnam and Cameron Tringale, but it’s clear he’s found his perfect match with Theegala.

What did Putnam think of losing his caddie to Theegala?

As a caddie, Smith had been working with Andrew Putnam for quite some time before he chose to leave and join forces with the Indian-American golfer. Smith’s decision was influenced by his desire to work with a young player and help them navigate the hardships of the PGA Tour. Having previously recruited Theegala at Pepperdine, he saw immense potential in him.

While the fans expected the golfer to have bad blood and whatnot, the aftershow was quite the opposite. According to Putnam, he was understanding of the situation and respected Smith’s decision. “They made it through, and then he ended up firing me; it was all good because Carl recruited Sahith, and he had always wanted a young rookie who he could show the ropes, and I was OK with it,” said the golfer per Golf Digest.

Smith’s move ultimately led to Theegala earning his PGA Tour card, while Putnam continued his journeyman career and joined forces with Jordan Guilford in 2024. Now that Smith has Theegala’s back, the duo is seen making waves in the industry, and the fans believe it is because of their laid-back and relaxed relationship on and off the course.

The iconic duo: Sahith Theegala and Carl Smith

Carl Smith and Sahith Theegala’s partnership on the golf course is built on trust, mutual respect, and a lot of talks about other sports. As they navigate the greens, the duo conversations often veer away from golf and onto their shared love of basketball. Yeah, it was quite surprising to us as well. “We talk about basketball all the time because I follow basketball and the Lakers a lot,” said Smith, per Golf Monthly.

Smith also recalled Theegala’s palpable enthusiasm before the 2023 Sony Open. “Last week, though, at Sony, he was really excited about Klay Thompson coming back to the Warriors with Steph (Curry) and Klay back together.” This shows that both of them are avid NBA fans. Whether it is excitement for his two favorite NBA players joining forces or his gameplay on the greens, Smith lets Theegala have his moment.

When it comes to the golf tournaments, Smith has learned to trust Theegala’s instincts, and he has admitted it. “’Alright, I’m going to let him do it, I guess,’ and I’ve never regretted it.” Smith has had a front-row seat to Theegala’s magic on the course, and we mean literally. He has watched the golfer pull off jaw-dropping escape shots from the most tough places. “He has this ability if he’s out of position off the tee to just shape it crazy around trees,” explained Smith.

If Smith’s words aren’t enough to prove the improvement Theegala’s game has seen, the results are always there to make a good case. The golfer has had seven top-ten finishes in the 2024 season alone, which proves that he and his skills are thriving under the supervision of his extremely reliable caddie and friend. So what do you think about this duo? Let us know in the comment section below!