After months battling injuries, Sahith Theegala returns to Bermuda with renewed confidence and powerful memories from his early career. In this heartfelt press conference, he reflects on overcoming setbacks, his emotional connection to the island, lessons learned from the late Brian Morris, and even shares the story behind his engagement in Hawaii 💍.
Good. Let’s do it. All right. Saw thanks for joining us. Um second time playing this tournament. Can you talk a little bit about the course? Just got off uh your 9-hole proam. Yeah. Yeah. Actually yesterday got pro got cancelled because the the winds were so high. So I was going to go play nine right before the prom, but didn’t end up doing it. So I played 18 today. Nice calmer day for sure. I think the forecast for the rest of the week is pretty windy. So that’s nothing new here. Um I think last time I played three three of the days were super windy. So we know what we’re getting into when we come here. But the course is honestly designed perfectly for this wind. Um it’s a it’s a short course but some of the holes play so so long. I mean there’s a lot of like sixiron through four iron approach shots. You’ll see a bunch of guys hit woods into some of the par fours and even some of the par threes. So it’s a good fun test. And then there’s other holes where you you know drive it right up by the green and try and get up and down for birdie. So, um there’s a lot of variance in the scoring, which I think always makes it for a fun watch and also fun playing it. Um you know, if you can play well, you can shoot a low number, but if you’re not on your game and um not on top of it, you can easily shoot a pretty high number. So, super fun course and and this is probably the best condition I’ve I’ve seen in a lot of guys kind of show that sentiment this week about the course. Couple top 30s in your last two starts entering this week. How do you feel about your game? Do you think you’re kind of trending upward? Yeah, I think I’m I finally feel like 100% and and I’ve been 100% for a few months, but I haven’t gotten my speed back and something that a lot of guys um just told me I just got to stay patient about it. I mean, I feel great. I’m moving well in the gym, maybe stronger than ever, but just the golf speed just took a really long time to come back and uh it’s finally back. I think the these last two weeks after Utah, um even Utah and Japan, I drove it great and and you know, played like I felt like I should have played. So, it’s just good to be back and and it’s what I’m using this weekend and next week as just this runway to to kind of start the next season. Um get a little more get a few more reps in. I’ve just felt like my season’s been so broken up through a couple injuries and um but yeah, game game honestly feels great. If I could just roll in a few putts that really cost me the last few weeks, but um I’m just excited to compete again this week, especially back here. Now, you had the oblique and neck injuries early in the year. You said you feel 100% back. When did you feel 100% back? And I guess how much of a, you know, relief or confidence boost was that? I missed quite a few events. I mean, I missed like I know I missed two majors and probably at least two or three signature events, so that was a bummer. Um, and I kind of rushed back a little bit at the open just because I didn’t want to miss a third major of the year and and I was not I was I was healthy, but I just didn’t play any golf. I was just in the gym. So thought maybe if I could do something special, but in hindsight, I mean, whatever. I I I got the clearance, I I wasn’t going to reinjure myself there, but um I’d say I was 100% in Napa was probably the first time. So it’s been two months now. Um I felt great. Just a lot of work with my team outside of the tournaments, which has been super fun, honestly. And just feel like I’m kind of due for a fresh start next season, which is which is fun. Um I got to play my way into everything to the majors, the signature events. I’m not in anything. So, um I’m excited for for that challenge and kind of the goal is to try and get into those signature events and um yeah, and to stay healthy. I have a good blueprint now. I it it was honestly my fault. So, um learned from that and it was a bummer that, you know, I’ve been so healthy the last five, six years and then for my first one to be something that really affected the whole season was a bummer. But, um yeah, I’m just I’m I’m pumped for next year to start. And then Thursday, Friday, you’re grouped with Rafa and Michael Brennan. Um, have you had a chance to meet Michael yet? And how familiar are you with his game? Yeah. Yeah. So, um, it’s a good question. I played with Michael today, uh, in the morning front, uh, the first nine holes I played with him and Hunter Walcott, who both tore it up in in Canada this year and, um, or Puget Americas, I should say. And, um, you know, I have a really good buddy and teammate, Derek Kitner, that played with Michael Brennan, I think, three or four times in the final group in Canada this year. And unfortunately, Michael’s got the best of him every time. But Derek got his corn fairy card, too. And he’s a baller, but he just said Michael’s a different breed of golfer. And um I got to see that in Utah, honestly. Like I hit balls next to him, was putting next to him. He just looks like the new the prototypical new generation of golfer where the guy’s hitting at, you know, 185, 190 ball speed in his sleep. And um he’s obviously he seemed like a super nice guy as well. like this was my first time really getting to spend some time with him. But his game’s really impressive. His swing makes it looks so easy. It looks like he’s not even trying to hit it hard and and you can see the control in his golf swing and especially at a place like Utah where um you know I think he had a historic strokes getting off the tee, but it’s kind of a it’s not just a bomb and gouge on a golf course. You got to put it in places and and clearly he was able to do that with driver which is super impressive and he he kind of ran away with the thing. Um, so to do that as especially after coming off what he did in uh PJ Tour Americas with the three wins, I mean, he’s gonna be a special player for a long time. So, um, yeah, I think uh there’s there’s definitely a group of those guys, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him rattle off a bunch more wins. Um, so um yeah, I think I’m excited to play with him the next couple days. And then Rafa obviously what a great story that was last year and got to spend some time with him and his wife um at Sentry this um this past year and like the nicest people ever. Um so happy for him and um you know I’m excited to play with him too and see how he kind of dissects the course. Obviously being a past champ he’s he’s doing a lot of things right out here. So I think it’ll be a good grouping of uh hopefully some good vibes next couple days. Do you see some similarities in their victories given the unusual or unexpected circumstances? Yeah, both. You know, I think it’s a it’s an interesting thing in sports. You see it all the time when someone’s back is up against the wall or you have a little bit of an extra chip on your shoulder. I feel like you always play a little bit better. And I think um I’m not so sure about Michael. think he was obviously had such a great summer and was probably expected to do good things, but I saw something after the week got retweeted on social media where it’s like, “Oh, you should fade Michael Brennan this week because his two previous starts on tour were terrible and like his corn furry starts kind of a mixed mixed bag.” But I’m like, “The guy’s playing the best golf maybe anyone right now.” So, um you know, maybe I don’t know if he saw that. um I might ask him but um yeah I think when you’re not expected to win and um you know you really need to do something special there there’s something in there it’s something intangible for sure and then obviously Rafa um was in a rough spot and and the birth of his child it’s um I don’t even think he was going to play the event so think he ended up showing up Wednesday or something crazy but um yeah there’s just uh some things are just out of your hands and um you know a week like that last year for him is definitely super super cool and super super special, but um like I said, there’s some intangibles to it and and uh felt like the perspective word gets used a lot, but I’m sure um with the birth of his daughter and um you know, a lot of other life things that I’m sure he’s going on with, especially later on in his career, like he’s just like, I need to step up and do it. And sure enough, he did. And seems like the great ones um in any sport do that. So, that was cool to see him do it. and and I think it’s breathed a new some new life into his career for sure and uh I hope he’s out here for another 101 15 years or whatever he wants to be out here for. So definitely some similarities. You played here one other time in 2021. Is there something specific that stands out about that week here in Bermuda? Yeah, it was a crazy crazy week actually. Um it was only my fourth or fifth PJ tournament as a member. Um, and my caddyy Carl couldn’t make it here, so I had my buddy Robbie, who’s cattied for me a couple other times. He cattied for me in Canada and at a cornfry event in Maine. So, we’re really good buddies. So, had him caddyy for me this week. And, um, I ended up getting paired up with uh, Michael Sims. Simsy, he’s a local legend. Uh, really good, incredible mini tour player, one of the nicest guys out here. He works as an agent now, so see him all the time as well. Um, and then Brian Morris, who another absolute legend. Um, especially in the golf world in Bermuda, I think anybody who’s related to golf in Bermuda has some sort of story or some sort of help from Brian to reach where they were. And I know he impacted a lot of people really, really well. But fortunately, he had he actually had I think when he got the spot, he had terminal cancer. Um, so yeah, it was it was a bummer. But like his attitude and just how he dealt with it was I’ve never seen anything like it. Um he was not going to back down to it. Um you know, he didn’t let it really affect his personality and he was just a really kind dude and made everyone else’s day a lot better. And you know, a lot of the the locals shared their stories uh with me four years ago about Brian and um you know, his character didn’t change. If anything, his character just got better and stronger once he once he found out he had terminal cancer. And uh yeah, he’s also a great player. Um you know, I think he a lot of people on this island learned a lot from him. So it was a wild week. And then my my grandfather actually died Wednesday night of this week. So it was just a lot a lot of stuff going on. Um but I just took it kind of in stride. I was just happy to to be here. Obviously just got my tour card here with one of my best friends and um just tried to make Brian’s Brian’s last couple rounds uh competitive rounds as cool as it will. uh as cool as I could have. Half the island was out here supporting and and they were cheering for every one of my shots as well. So, um yeah, I remember the first hole. He striped a little hybrid down there, hit it to 8 ft, and I was like, “Oh my god, this guy’s going to do it.” He ended up making par on the first hole and and uh definitely some other memorable shots. I don’t know. He I mean he honestly played pretty well for how obviously the cancer was affecting his stamina and his strength but I think he put up a couple rounds in the 80s and um he ended up outliving his prognosis by I think like two years. It was something crazy like the guy is just an absolute fire and and again he never let her let u never let the cancer put him down. So it was a crazy special week. It’s a week that I reminisce on a lot. Um, also I was missing the cup by like four or five with six, seven holes to go and I birdied like five of my last six just out of nowhere like and and again that’s another intangible thing that I talk about. You know, my my grandfather was definitely out there looking out for me. So I remember making birdie on on my 36th hole on throwing a fat fist pump, which I don’t I don’t do a lot of that, but especially to make a cut, but um yeah, it’s a special week. Um, you know, a lot of people here associ associated with the event still honor Brian. And um, Simsy actually gave me a hat. Um, he has these three hearts. I think it’s green, yellow, red. I forgot what order, but I wear the hat all the time. Just just as a reminder that just to be kind to people. That’s seem to be Brian’s big thing. So, um, yeah, I think his wife’s going to be here. Um, but yeah, it’s going to be, you know, he’s the man and and to see all the guys that were here part of the tournament four years ago, still talking about the positive impact he had is is really cool. So, it’s a week I’m never going to forget. Um, everybody remembered my caddy’s name, Robbie, um, from four years ago, which I thought was cool. I need to I need to call him and maybe next year I can bring him out here again. Um, but yeah, special week and, uh, just glad I could be back and and hopefully play four days of good golf. One other question on that. You yourself, were you under any pressure when you were playing with Brian? I know there was a lot of pressure around with a lot of Bermudians supporting him obviously, but for you yourself, you acted I know you are a professional golfer, but you were young in into that part of your career. You acted so professionally quote unquote with the way that you let him take his limelight and I think that’s what a lot of people uh will remember about what you did for him as well on that. Does does that stand out to you? Yeah. Yeah. You know, I again, I got a lot of credit, but I just felt like I was I was thankful for the tournament for, you know, putting me in such someone’s in such a special moment and such a special place for not only Brian, but kind of everyone in the island that um has gotten to know Brian and and that he’s impacted. So, um I know we had to talk with the rules official about, hey, if things get slowed down, like we’ll we’ll try and speed it up, but I mean I I didn’t really let that affect me at all. Uh, I just wanted to have a good time and make sure that Brian and and Simsy had a great time and and I don’t think anything was actually going to stop Brian from having a good time no matter where he hit it, no matter how long he took. And and he played fast. Um, give credit where credit’s due. And um, I also got to give credit to OJ, his caddy. I mean, he he kept things moving along as well. He stayed out of the way. I know he was nervous, too. and and you know I think it’s a testament to you that you remember obviously your own caddy’s name but the fact that you remember Brian and Michael so and you also a tribute to OJ who is cadding for Brian in that tournament any special moment that sticks out in your mind about Brian a word that passed between the two of you or something that will keep you remembering other than the red yellow and go red yellow and green ant well it’s I he he said some words that I can’t repeat here but uh one of the statements was um he it just made me laugh and he was talking about hey man I this was like early on in the in the time like I didn’t know how to bring up the cancer with him like I didn’t but at some point I was just like I’m just going to talk about he seems so chill so good about it and he’s like man how’s it been like how’s everyone treating you like what’s what’s your prognosis and he’s like scythe like now that I have cancer I can say whatever the f I want and I can do whatever I want I can ask for something I get stuff so you know in the darkest time of his life and I’m sure all the close ones around him, you know, he’s he’s able to be still shows humorous side and and uh you know, never took it for granted every day that he still had um alive. So, there was a lot of kind of moments like that out there. I mean, he he hit some he he whiffed a few shots and the first thing he would put his hand around me and just give me a hug. He’s like, “Sh, f this game, man. It’s the worst game ever.” But he also said multiple times that’s the best game ever and that you know golf is saved his life pretty much and um you know I think he attri attributes a lot of his kind of uh just relationships that he made through golf and and why he felt like he was so lucky in his life. One other question from us. Um Bermuda was early in your career. You find yourself back here after a pretty rough season by standing through injury and so on. Was this meant to be here? Were you meant to be? Was it always on your plan to make a comeback here? What what why do you come back here? Why have you come back and picked this championship? Yeah. Yeah, for sure. I mean, you know, bottom line, this is still a PGA tournament and and every PJ tournament that I play in is is an honor and and I don’t take it for granted and and a lot of people ask me why I’m here this week because, you know, I’m exempt next year and and don’t need to try to get in the top 100 or anything like that. But again, it’s just a place that um have a lot of good memories of and and I feel like my game is starting to get in a good place and just wanted to get more competitive reps. And uh a big thing I’ve been struggling with the last few tournaments is, you know, just getting back into the swing of things. Like I’m maybe a little focused too much on my mechanics and my swing and how my stroke looks and all that stuff. So I know out here that none of that stuff matters. You got to flight your ball. You have to score as much as you can. You got to get up and down from some gnarly places. So I just thought it would be good it would be a great week to just put me in a good mindset, you know, on island time. And um again, the people have been so kind to me. So, it’s an event that uh you know, Javon’s the man, so I always told him I’d be back. Don’t worry about it. You don’t have to convince me too hard. So, glad to be here. Uh, last question. I don’t think we can let you go without asking about the engagement you and a few weeks ago. Can you talk a little bit about that, where you guys were, everything? Yeah. Um, man, I’m glad it’s over. Obviously, super excited. Um, but I’m not a planner. She literally plans everything in our relationship. I mean, where we eat, flights, whatever. Booking stuff, taking literally does everything outside of golf in our relationship. So, for me to plan this was a lot of work and a lot of stress. Um, thankfully her sister and her dad helped me a lot, but kind of had to keep it a secret for over a month. Um, just kind of coordinating everybody. It was was difficult. Again, um, sister helped me a lot, which was huge. Um, but still, it was like had to keep it a secret. And like again, she it’s so hard to hide a secret from her. So I think she had an idea, especially when I was like, “Hey, like let’s go to Hawaii between Japan and Utah. Like we’re going to have to go back to California anyway. It’s like right in the middle.” So I think she actually bought that. Like I made sure to like not have her receive the emails when I booked our flights. And like when we tagged our bags in Japan, I was like, “Don’t look.” I was like, “We’re going to Hawaii, but I’m not going to tell you what island.” So she didn’t know what island we were going to till um till we got to Honolulu. and then connecting to Kawaii. So, it went great though. It went great. All our family was there. My parents were in India, so they’re we facetimed him right after. But my brother came and we had our closest people from from both sides there and it was a blast. But, uh, I’m glad it’s I’m glad nothing I’m glad I didn’t lose the ring. Like, just traveling in Japan with the ring was every day I was stressed. So, I’m glad I didn’t drop the ring in the ocean. I proposed on like a cliff side and all I could think about was, “Oh my god, I’m going to drop this ring in the ocean.” Never find it again. So, um, it it honestly went well and, um, I don’t know if she for sure knew her or not. I think she had an idea, but she took she acted like she didn’t, so I appreciate that a lot as well. And, um, yeah, we had a great time. Uh, it worked out perfect. It honestly was It went better than I thought it would. So, um, it’s all I can ask for. Awesome. Congratulations. Have you guys set a date or are you still working that out? Yeah, working on it. I think we’re going to get a date this week, actually. She’s meeting with a couple wedding planners tomorrow um sometime October next year or November. Um probably in Hawaii again, but we’ll see. Yeah, I think in Hawaii. So, perfect. Congrats. Thanks for Thanks,
