BMW CHAMPIONSHIP

August 21, 2022

Sahith Theegala

Wilmington Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. In the context of everything on the line today, take us through your 18 holes.

SAHITH THEEGALA: Yeah, I was really nervous this morning. I had my best friend Roy with me this week, and it was cool having him by my side. But I was nervous. I had a little bit of the shakes warming up. I couldn't hold my hands still.

I felt great mindset-wise, but just body-wise I knew something big was on the line. Once I got a few shots -- I birdied the first hole, which really settled the nerves.

But that was a wild ride. I hit one fairway. I kept hitting it a foot in the rough, and then just from there this course is too firm, you can't even go at pins. Felt like I was hitting it to 60 feet and two-putting all day.

It was such a grind the last two days. I think I'm dead last in the field in strokes gained off the tee by like five. It's going to be funny looking at the stat. That was such a grind.

I really left everything out there on the last six or seven holes, whether I get in or not. Just happy how I handled myself for sure.

Q. You've had some close calls this year, a bit of heartbreak, a lot of elation, lots of new experiences. With all of that, how much would it mean to you to make it to the TOUR Championship?

SAHITH THEEGALA: Oh, it would mean everything. I think the validation of the season, it's another step for me to feel like I really belong because I still don't feel like I'm really there at the top of the game. Slowly building confidence every week, whether it's a good or bad week. I feel like I've made a lot of progress. Yeah, it would mean the world to make the TOUR Championship and stand along 29 of the other best golfers in the world.

Q. Why do you think you don't quite belong yet?

SAHITH THEEGALA: Yeah, I don't know. Even yesterday I was walking up 18, hit my 5-wood in the right rough, which is so standard there, and I was just -- I turned to Carl, I was like, it's incredible how much better I could get and how bad -- I totally agree some parts of my game have been incredible this year, but just playing with some of these guys, they are so good, and seeing different facets of their game that I feel like I can improve so much more in every area of the game. Even areas that I thought I was the strongest in. I played with Denny McCarthy yesterday and the guy has got the best short game -- one of the best short games I've ever seen.

Playing with guys like that, I'm slowly building that confidence, but we'll see when I finally fully am there.

Q. If this is it for you for the season, how would you sum it up?

SAHITH THEEGALA: Yeah, it was a dream season. Like I said, the fact that I'm even on the PGA TOUR is pretty absurd. I had Roy to remind me of that a lot this week, how cool PGA TOUR lifestyle is, and how many people you can affect positively and all that stuff. What me and my family have worked so hard for and just the fact that I had a full season, and my only expectation was really to keep my card, and obviously I've blown that out of the water.

Yeah, no matter what happens, whether I get in or not, it's been a dream season, and I just can't wait to keep going on the journey.

Q. You mentioned having nerves this morning. You've had a couple chances to win golf tournaments this year.

SAHITH THEEGALA: Yeah.

Q. Was this a little strange for you? Did it feel differently --

SAHITH THEEGALA: Yeah, it did.

Q. -- knowing you probably can't win but you still have so much at stake?

SAHITH THEEGALA: Yeah, it did. I was joking, I think I was in 30th to start the day. I was like, I'm in 30th place out of 70 people, and I'm as nervous as if I were near the lead.

It was definitely different, and it definitely felt like a tournament within a tournament. That putt on the last hole just felt so big. It really felt like some of the putts I had made coming down the stretch when I was near the lead there.

But yeah, very similar feeling. It feels a little better to get some closure today. Whether or not I advance, I felt like I fully closed it. Didn't leave any shots out there the last seven or eight holes, whereas the other times I felt like obviously I have.

Yeah, just having that closure is cool.

Q. Do you find that type of nervousness fun as a competitor?

SAHITH THEEGALA: Oh, that's what it's all about. The fact that you're even in that position to feel nerves is a good thing. I think that's something I tell a lot of guys is like, hey, if you're nervous, that's such a good feeling. Imagine not being nervous, then what you're doing kind of thing. Obviously there's a fine line between serious nervousness and anxiety and comfortability, and finding that line is tough, but yeah, just pressure is a privilege, and I sure felt that way today.

Q. Can you tell us about the last three holes? 16 you were in trouble there, 18 you were in trouble there, and then 17 you make a ridiculous putt. What were you feeling the last three holes?

SAHITH THEEGALA: Yeah, I was so frustrated this week. I definitely let go of some clubs in my swing, and I'm not too happy about that. But 16, it was my bread and butter, kind of the low stinger fade that I hit with a 3-iron all year, and just squirted right on me and hit a tree like 160 yards off the tee. I was just so frustrated there. I was like, come on, this is the one chance -- I still hadn't hit a fairway to that point, so I caught a great lie in the rough. I had like 210 or 220 to the hole. I was just trying to blast it over the green. Blasted it over the green, had a tough lie but knew it was an easy chip, so chipped it in there to three feet, which was great.

Finally hit a fairway on 17, best tee shot I've hit in a long time. I think I had like 70 yards in. Hit a horrible pitch there. I was like, oh, great, I hit a fairway and now I whiff the wedge. But I just had a good feeling over that putt. I hadn't really made any long putts this week, and it had a nice look to it, and I didn't have to hit it too hard because it was a touch downhill, and it was just tracking the whole way. I gave a pretty big fist pump, which I've been holding in for seems like over a month now. I can't remember the last time I fist pumped, so that was cool.

18, I don't know why I tried to hit a draw. My natural shot is a cut. Tried to draw a 5-wood, and it started 20 yards right of my target and then cut, so I hit it 50 right. Honestly, great break that I was in the trampled-down area just so I could slice it up near the green. I would have been happy hitting it long left of the green or 50 yards left, but it came out really nice and was like a low slice.

Honestly probably a good break that it stayed where it did. I thought it could have been on the green. After that it felt fitting that -- I felt very comfortable that I'd get it up-and-down. I didn't know how I would. But the fact that it was left to what I feel is the strongest part of my game was fitting.

Hit a decent chip. I was nervous on that for sure, but left myself an easy putt, and it was really satisfying to hit my line on that one.

Q. On 18, I noticed afterwards you looking into the crowd. Were you looking for your dad or your friends and family or just the fans and just soaking up the moment?

SAHITH THEEGALA: Yeah, I was just kind of soaking up the moment. Took a glance, I knew exactly where my dad and cousin and Roy were and the rest of the friends that came out to support me. Yeah, just kind of taking it in. It just felt like I was -- I had no breathing room at all that back nine. It was just squeezing every shot I could out of that. Finally kind of relaxed after that putt went in.

Q. What are you going to do for the next two hours?

SAHITH THEEGALA: Sit inside and watch, just chat, try and keep it chill, have a Diet Coke, get some caffeine.