Sahith Theegala was third in Atlanta despite a self-reported penalty

ATLANTA – Sahith Theegala is 98 or 99 percent sure he moved the sand when he left the bunker at East Lake Golf Club.

Unsure of the exact rules, Theegala let playing partner Xander Schauffele and PGA Tour rules officials know. He ended up receiving a two-stroke penalty for a foul on the third hole, which could have ruined his weekend at the Tour Championship and cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars — not hyperbole.

But if Theegala wants to forget the miscue at No. The 26-year-old birdied seven of the last eight holes, including No.

“Just some momentum putts like that birdies continue,” Theegala said. “Yeah, looks like a lot of my games are pretty good right now.”

A 5-under 66 might be a 7-under 64 if there were no penalties.

Theegala, a youngster on tour playing in his second Tour Championship, hit a drive on the par-4 third into a bunker. He was described as having an incredibly good lie, with the ball sitting in the sand, and when he started his backswing, he was sure he saw a few grains of sand flying with the clubhead.

The famous edict in the rules of golf is that the player cannot ground the club in the sand when aiming the ball. Theegala did not know that it also applies to the backswing. The rules official said it would be a two-stroke penalty, turning the par on No. 3 into a double bogey.

“Unfortunately, the rules do not matter,” Theegala explained after his round. “If you change your lie in an area directly around the ball that might affect your swing, it’s a two-shot penalty.

“It’s just unfortunate. But I – sure enough I broke the rules, so I paid the price for it, and I feel good about it.”

Theegala had the opportunity to review the video with a rules official before signing the card. There is no conclusive video evidence to overturn the conviction.

Theegala said he would sleep better if he saw his suspicions confirmed on camera. But what if he didn’t call the punishment on himself?

“Oh, I won’t be able to sleep,” he said. “No matter what the outcome, I need to know what the real rules are.

“I decided to call the official rules directly on that green. But either way, I will ask the rules official after the round, too, or somehow know what the rules are, and if I don’t ask the official rules. and I go back home and look for the rules that’s what’s on my mind.”

It was difficult for Theegala to continue immediately. He said he dropped the water bottle after playing the hole.

“I wear my emotions on my sleeve. It’s hard not to mess things up,” said Theegala. “I made a huge par on 4. I think that saved my round.

“Yeah, I’m glad I made that putt because if I didn’t make the putt, I’d be really hot walking to the 5th hole. Yeah, just put a little fuel on the fire, I guess. Just try to use it positively, Carl (Smith), keep telling me that I’ve played really well a lot more golf to play.'”

It took until the par-3 11th hole to fire which turned into some positive scores; Theegala landed the tee shot 6 feet short of the pin and made birdie. A 10-footer on the par-5 14 kicked off his closing jump, which includes an approach to bet 3 feet on No. 17 and a big gap at No.

Theegala could be disqualified from the event if the penalty is ignored and discovered later. However, that decision took courage. A $100 million purse is on offer in the playoff final; the difference between the third and fourth, for example, $ 1.5 million.

Theegala will enter Sunday in third place despite the overturned penalty. With a final birdie, he passed Schauffele, leaving him tied for fourth at 16. Theegala is nine behind leader Scottie Scheffler, but second place is still up for grabs.

“I’ve been playing a lot of golf,” Theegala said. “You spend a lot of time in your life staring at the lie that you have, the ball that you have, and it doesn’t feel like a normal fairway bunker shot. It feels like some sand is moving. At the end of the day I’m fine with that decision, and I think it’s fair that I estimated two shots.

–Adam Zielonka, Field Level Media