Day: November 19, 2022

Sahith Theegala seeks to close 2022 with a winSahith Theegala seeks to close 2022 with a win

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Sahith Theegala had the luxury to relax this offseason. He has a two-year exemption after qualifying for this year’s TOUR Championship, a well-earned reward for a successful rookie season. He could’ve returned home to California or his adopted hometown of Houston and kicked up his feet after an eventful first year that included several close calls with victory. There’s just one problem. “I’m an addict and I just love to play,” he said. The RSM Classic, the final PGA TOUR event of 2022, is Theegala’s 38th start since the start of last season, one off the TOUR high. It’s his sixth start of this fall season, as well. His decision to tee it up one last time could pay big dividends, and provide the perfect ending to a year that began with Theegala just hoping to keep his card. He is just one shot off the lead entering the final round at Sea Island Resort. He had his share of close calls this year, from Arizona to Connecticut and several stops in between and is poised to capitalize on those experiences. He broke par both times he was a 54-hole leader last season but didn’t go low enough to take home the trophy. There were heartbreaking finishes at the WM Phoenix Open and Travelers Championship, where he was undone by drives that found trouble. But Theegala has won fans with the poise with which he handled those heartbreaks. Even though Sunday’s high temperature isn’t forecast to get above 55 degrees, he’ll likely need a low one if he wants to end 2022 on a winning note. Even when the weather turns ugly, as it can in the fall on the Atlantic coast, Sea Island’s Seaside Course is forgiving enough to allow plenty of birdies. Patrick Rodgers, who shares The RSM Classic’s 54-hole lead with Ben Martin, knows that better than anyone. It was here three years ago that he shot 61-62 on the weekend to post the lowest score in TOUR history over the final two rounds of a tournament. It wasn’t enough to win, however, as he lost in a playoff to Charles Howell III. Like Theegala, Rodgers is a former collegiate star seeking his maiden victory. Rodgers, 30, has had to wait a bit longer, however. Theegala won the Haskins Award as college golf’s top player two years ago. Rodgers earned that honor in 2014, as part of a career at Stanford that saw him break Tiger Woods’ school record for lowest scoring average (70.3) and tie Woods’ mark for career wins (11). Rodgers has been a runner-up three times in his 226 starts on TOUR. He had another close call earlier this fall at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, where he shot 65 in the final round to finish third, two shots behind winner Seamus Power. Ten players will start The RSM’s final round within two shots of the lead, and many of those players, like Rodgers and Theegala, will be looking for their first win while others, such as Martin and Andrew Putnam, will be looking to win again several years after their maiden title. Putnam, Theegala and Adam Svensson will start the final round at 13 under par, one off the lead. Svensson shot Saturday’s low round, a 62, to move into contention. He will play in Sunday’s final group alongside the co-leaders. Putnam and Theegala, who will play in Sunday’s second-to-last group with local favorite Brian Harman, share an alma mater (Pepperdine) and a caddie connection. Theegala’s caddie, Carl Smith, was working for Putnam before going on Theegala’s bag at last year’s Korn Ferry Tour Finals. Putnam, who won his lone TOUR title at the 2018 Barracuda Championship, has made the cut in all eight of his starts this fall, including a runner-up to Keegan Bradley at THE ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP. Martin, who regained his TOUR card at this year’s Korn Ferry Tour Finals, won the 2014 Shriners Children’s Open but has struggled with back injuries since. Among the players who are two back are Presidents Cup participant Taylor Pendrith; another former Haskins Award winner looking for his first win, Beau Hossler; and this season’s breakout rookie, Taylor Montgomery, who ranks 10th in the FedExCup. He has finished in the top 25 in all but one of his six starts. Power, the FedExCup leader, will start the final round three back. Several players have the opportunity to wrest the top spot from him and start 2023 atop the standings. But first, there is one round remaining in 2022. It promises to be an eventful one that will change someone’s career. “You kind of want to leave,” said Theegala, “with a good taste in your mouth.”

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Patrick Rodgers, Ben Martin share lead at The RSM ClassicPatrick Rodgers, Ben Martin share lead at The RSM Classic

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Patrick Rodgers ran off four straight birdies late in his round Saturday and finished with a par save for a 6-under 64, giving him a share of the lead with Ben Martin in The RSM Classic and another chance at his first PGA TOUR title. Martin was poised to match that score until he came up short on the 18th green, chipped to just inside 5 feet and missed the par putt. He had a 65. They were at 14-under 198 in the final PGA TOUR event of the year, and it was far from a two-man race. Ten players were within two shots of the lead, a group that included Sahith Theegala (68), Brian Harman (64) and even Harry Higgs, who was atop the leaderboard at the start of the day and had a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 70. Cole Hammer, who graduated from Texas in May and is playing on a sponsor exemption, was tied for the lead going into the weekend. He was 4 over through five holes and managed a 72. Even so, he was only four shots behind. Rodgers hit the reset button after last season ended in August, setting up a plan with swing coach Jeff Smith that entails making incremental improvements. It appears to be working. He tied for third in Bermuda three weeks ago and has been a steady presence during the fall events. Rodgers was the top-ranked amateur in the world his final year at Stanford. He is making his 226th start on the PGA TOUR and still searching for his first win. It didn’t take long to get in the mix. He holed a 25-foot birdie putt on the 13th hole, stuffed his approach to 6 feet on the tough 14th, made an 8-foot birdie on the par-5 15th and capped off his run with a 30-foot birdie putt on the 16th. “I feel like I put together a tiny offseason with my coach, Jeff Smith. We really put a good plan together,” Rodgers said. “I’ve been feeling more comfortable. It’s a hard game, and it’s always nice to see hard work pay off.” Eight of the top players on the leaderboard have yet to win on the PGA TOUR. Theegala certainly had his chances during his rookie year that saw him reach the TOUR Championship. Taylor Pendrith (65) got plenty of experience playing his first Presidents Cup in September. Taylor Montgomery has had a strong start to his rookie season with five finishes in the top 15. He already is up to No. 65 in the world. Martin’s lone PGA TOUR victory was eight years ago in Las Vegas. Adam Svensson of Canada made the biggest move with a 62, including an eagle on the par-5 15th hole, putting him one shot behind along with Theegala and Andrew Putnam, who also shared the 36-hole lead. He saved par from a bunker on the last hole for a 69.

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Nick Faldo joins ESPN’s College GameDay in Montana as celebrity guest pickerNick Faldo joins ESPN’s College GameDay in Montana as celebrity guest picker

For the second week in a row, ESPN’s College GameDay has gone to the world of golf for their celebrity guest picker. Following Jordan Spieth’s appearance last week at his alma mater in Austin, Texas, the trend continued with six-time major winner Sir Nick Faldo joining the crew on location in Bozeman, Montana. The storied player and recently retired commentator for CBS and Golf Channel calls Montana his home these days, filling his free time with fly fishing and cheering for the Montana State Bobcats. Without a major matchup between top teams at the FBS level, ESPN chose to send the show to Big Sky Country for the rivalry matchup between Montana and Montana State with pivotal FCS playoff implications. Faldo joined Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, and the whole crew on set in 5-degree weather, a record low for any College GameDay live show. Finding himself right at home back in front of the cameras, Faldo picked the day’s biggest games like USC over UCLA, Michigan over Illinois, Montana State over Montana, and Utah over Oregon, giving Utah-native Tony Finau a shout-out in the process. Faldo dropped a few more golf nuggets, taking the Oklahoma Sooners over the Oklahoma State Cowboys while telling Rickie Fowler it’s time to ditch his iconic OSU orange. After picking Stanford in their matchup against Cal, Faldo made a unscheduled prediction that Stanford alum Tiger Woods would win the upcoming PNC Championship with his son Charlie. The pair finished second in last year’s event but have yet to officially declare their participance in this year’s edition. With Faldo no longer teaming up with Jim Nantz to call golf action, fans of the Englishmen were pleased to hear one of the game’s most iconic voices back in their living rooms once again.

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McIlroy, Fitzpatrick in mix for title as Rahm leads in DubaiMcIlroy, Fitzpatrick in mix for title as Rahm leads in Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Rory McIlroy is well-placed for another Race to Dubai title after his 7-under 65 on Saturday left him three shots off the lead heading into the final round at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship. Jon Rahm holds a one-stroke lead after a bogey-free 65 put the Spaniard at 15-under 201 overall at Jumeirah Golf Estates as he seeks to win the event for a third time. The top-ranked McIlroy will battle U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick on Sunday for the Harry Vardon Trophy. “If I’m able to go out there tomorrow and shoot a good score and get the job done, it would be a really nice way to end what’s been a great year,” said the Northern Irishman, who is trying to become the European tour’s leading player for the fourth time in his career. Fitzpatrick trails Rahm by one shot after a 70 that included two bogeys on the front nine at the Earth Course, where he is a two-time winner. The Englishman can clinch what would be his first Race to Dubai title if he wins Sunday and McIlroy finishes below second. A second-place finish would also be good enough for Fitzpatrick if McIlroy finishes lower than seventh. “It would mean the world,” said Fitzpatrick, who lamented a slow start Saturday. “I’m going to need a lot of things going my way. I’ve given myself a chance going into tomorrow and that’s all you can do from the start of the week.” Alex Noren (68) is two shots off the lead, and McIlroy is tied for fourth with Tyrrell Hatton (72). McIlroy went bogey-eagle-bogey on the first three holes and had seven birdies the rest of the way. “Overall, just hit it in the fairway a bit more today which made a big difference,” he said. “I was able to get control of my approach shots and hit them close and make some easy birdies. (I) just need to do more of the same tomorrow.” McIlroy is trying to win the FedExCup and Race to Dubai in the same year for the first time, having won each event on three occasions. His last Race to Dubai title came in 2015, having also won it in 2012 and 2014. Rahm was pleased with his third round. “I don’t think I could have shot any lower today,” he said. “(I) wasn’t my best off the tee, but I was able to actually get some birdies out of some not-so-good situations. I didn’t hit any of the fairways on the par 5s and still played them 3-under par. I’ve had some good Sundays out here, so hopefully I can tidy up the mistakes off the tee and have a smooth round.”

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How to watch The RSM Classic, Round 3: Featured Groups, live scores, tee times, TV timesHow to watch The RSM Classic, Round 3: Featured Groups, live scores, tee times, TV times

Round 3 from The RSM Classic at St. Simons Island, Georgia takes place Saturday from Sea Island Golf Club. Two courses will be in play, Seaside and Plantation, as players look to earn the last FedExCup points on offer for 2022. Harry Higgs, Andrew Putnam, and Cole Hammer all share the lead at 12-under. Leaderboard Full tee times HOW TO FOLLOW (ALL TIMES ET) Television: Saturday-Sunday, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. (Golf Channel) Radio: Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com/liveaudio) MUST READS Harry Higgs shares lead at The RSM Classic Fear a factor in Joel Dahmen’s success Water bill mishap, stomach bug don’t derail Ben Griffin at The RSM Classic After difficult season, Webb Simpson continues RSM success How burnout helped Ben Griffin rediscover his competitive edge Webb Simpson gets the custom Titleist iron treatment with new ‘682.WS’ prototypes

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