The competition is stiff when it comes to the battle for this year’s PGA Tour rookie of the year, but Sahith Theegala is firmly in the mix.
Theegala became a breakout star at the WM Phoenix Open, when he led the tournament as a sponsor’s exemption until a bogey on the drivable 17th hole derailed his chance at an outright victory. Scottie Scheffler ended up claiming the titel, and Theegala finished T3.
Another close call followed at Travelers Championship, where Theegala finished T2.
Though he’s still seeking his maiden Tour victory, Theegala has posted five total top-10 finishes this season, banking more than $2.6 million in winnings in the process.
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And at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, Theegala has found himself in the mix yet again. The 24-year-old was T9 through 36 holes, which, if he can remain in the top 10 through Sunday, should be good enough to push him into the super-lucrative FedEx Cup top 30 — at least for now.
Regardless of where he finishes, it’s already been a dream season for Theegala, who remains super-relatable, even though he has become a multi-millionaire this year. After firing a second-round 70 on Friday, Theegala explained why, despite his newfound windfall of cash, he’s still driving his old Volkswagen Passat.
“Just hit the 100,000 mile mark,” he said. “The problem is I just got it fixed, like a $700 repair, so I’m like, oh, I don’t need a new car now.”
Tour pros: They’re just like us! But Theegala then admitted he’s ready for an upgrade soon.
“I’ve always dreamed of having a nice car, that was kind of the first thing that I was going to buy,” he said. “I don’t really spend on anything, so definitely going to look into it. I think this offseason I’m going to do it.”
Fortunately for Theegala, $2.6 million should be enough to afford something pretty nice.