Following a stellar rookie season on the PGA Tour, many thought the 2022-23 season would be a breakout one for Sahith Theegala.
The 25-year-old California native had a good year, though it wasn’t as good as his first on Tour. He tied for second at the RSM Classic last November and had seven top-10 finishes, but he finished 31st in the FedEx Cup standings and missed out on the Tour Championship.
Earlier this week, Theegala said he was eager to play again, and it’s easy to see why.
Theegala finally got over the hump, capturing his first PGA Tour victory Sunday at the 2023 Fortinet Championship in Napa, California. Theegala finished at 21-under 267 at Silverado Resort’s North Course, and the wait for one of the best young stars in the game to get his first victory is over.
In the final round, Theegala shot 4-under 68, including three birdies in his first five holes to take control. He led by two shots heading into a final round, and the winning margin was two after a closing bogey, but it didn’t matter.
Justin Thomas, who was in the group at T-2 before the final round, shot even-par 72 on Sunday and finished at 15 under and solo fifth. Max Homa, a fellow United States Ryder Cup team member with Thomas and the Fortinet Championship’s two-time defending victor, finished at 13 under and T-7.
Rookie S.H. Kim finished solo second at 19 under.
Although it doesn’t count as an official PGA Tour victory, Theegala won the QBE Shootout last December with partner Tom Hoge. However, there’s no doubt about his victory Sunday in wine country.
