Sahith Theegala would have been only seven strokes behind Scottie Scheffler [TOUR Championship leader] after the third round, if not for his self-reporting infraction. After playing the 4th hole at the newly renovated East Lake, Theegala called a PGA Tour rule official. According to the Pepperdine alum, he had hit a few grains of sand while taking a backswing and wanted to know if it was a penalty. It indeed was and Theegala procured a 2-stroke penalty.

Although his playing partner, Xander Schauffele, and he, both thought “It’s just whatever, it’s fine, you touched a grain of sand, didn’t mean to move it, you’re good,” Theegala could not let it slide. Even though the fans loved the honesty, why did Theegala do it? The 26-year-old revealed at the press conference later that if he hadn’t called himself out, “I wouldn’t be able to sleep,” said the PGA Tour pro.

Furthermore, Theegala explained that regardless of the outcome, he would have called the rule official, because if he went home and then found it would have been sitting on his mind for longer than wanted. However, even after NBC showed a zoomed-in version of the shot, it was hard to see when and where Theegala moved the sand before taking his shot. Though he said, “Intuition, it felt like I moved the sand” and his reports were taken in for a two-stroke penalty.

It was indeed disappointing that Theegala was two strokes behind because his backswing hit the sand in the bunker, although not intentionally, but the 1-time PGA Tour winner was happy with his decision. Because it could have ended much worse for Theegala if he had chosen to ignore it.

Sahith Theegala was glad that he spoke out before it was too late

What would have happened if Theegala had ignored his intuition, signed the scorecard, and just went home? Well, the 1-time PGA Tour winner described the gutted fate he would have met in doing that. Theegala said, “If I went back after the round, looked that up, and found out that it was a two-shot penalty, I would be DQ’d right now.” And his chances of winning on Sunday would have been swept away in a few minutes.

That’s why Theegala announced that he was glad he called it there and there. Additionally, the 26-year-old pro expressed that he understands the golf rules better now, And reassured the fans that it was not unfair. He counted the things he could do in the sand bunker, Theegala said, “You can chuck a club in the bunker, you can literally stand — you can use your golf club as a stand in the bunker” but not near the ball where it can affect the line of shot.

So, although it was unfortunate, the two-stroke penalty was any day better than disqualifying from the $100 million TOUR Championship. Theegala still has 18 more holes to chase Scheffler and, hopefully, he would avoid touching sand before his shot!