There were not many signs at the end of 2024 that Sahith Theegala would have such a tough follow-up campaign.
After a strong finish to the previous year, many expected Theegala to keep that momentum going into 2025. He had come off a great showing at the 2024 Tour Championship and looked set for more big moments.
During that run, he called a penalty on himself for brushing sand in a bunker, which cost him what would have been the lowest gross score at East Lake. Not long after, he made his debut in the Presidents Cup.
Last season was marred by injury for him. He missed four consecutive cuts, from the Memorial Tournament through to the Wyndham Championship, and failed to achieve a top-10 finish in any of his 23 starts.
How Sahith Theegala views his form ahead of the 2026 PGA Tour campaign
Theegala did not have to worry about keeping his tour card, but with the PGA Tour structure evolving, he knows there is still pressure to perform.
The 28-year-old told the Golf Channel that he is happy with where his game is heading into the new season, though he acknowledged how difficult it was to stay mentally sharp while recovering from injuries.
“I think everyone will tell you the hardest part about not being physically 100 per cent is mentally you want to go more than 100 per cent. You want to put in all that extra work. You want to outwork everyone. You want to feel like your game is where you want it to be. But when you’re not there physically, you just can’t do that,” he began by saying.
“You have to take time off and rest and get your body back to 100 per cent. I think that’s more important than even getting your game in the right place. Once you have that baseline of your body being healthy, you can really dive into the golf stuff, so that’s my main goal this year, just to make sure my body’s 100 per cent. We’ve found some really nice things over the off-season that it’s a lot easier for me to do. It’s a little bit of discipline. I can’t lose discipline.
“So yeah, that’s a big thing for me. I’m not too worried about the golf at all. I know it’s kind of weird to say that after a year of poor results. But I’ve played it my whole life and so has everyone out here at such a high level, and you just never know when it could all click. You just need to put yourself in the right frame of mind and just give yourself the best opportunity to make sure that special week comes out.”
Sahith Theegala shares his primary aim for the 2026 season
The 2026 season will have a different feel to it. Players who finished outside the top 100 in last year’s FedEx Cup standings and were not already exempt have lost their full membership.
The pressure is higher than ever, and that seems to be reflected in how Theegala is approaching the year ahead.
“A big one for me is to make top 50. It’s a little wider goal than maybe my last couple of years.
“I was probably too focused on trying to make Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup teams and really wanted to win. But I haven’t vocalised those goals too much. This year I just want to stay healthy. And a big personal goal would be top 50.”
A strong showing by Theegala at Waialae this week, given the calibre of the field, would be a promising indication of his form.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
