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BLAINE– Indian-American golfers Sahith Theegala and Akshay Bhatia are teeing it up this week at the 3M Open, with both eyeing crucial moves up the leaderboard—Theegala in a bid to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs and Bhatia seeking to improve his standing for next season’s high-stakes events.
Bhatia currently sits 46th in the FedExCup standings and 38th in the Official World Golf Ranking, while Theegala is ranked 50th in the world. Although both secured full PGA Tour status through their Top-30 finishes at the 2024 Tour Championship, the duo is aiming to crack the Top-70 to qualify for the 2025 FedExCup Playoffs and gain entry to next season’s $20 million Signature Events.
For Theegala, the 3M Open is one of just two remaining opportunities to make that leap. He’ll need a strong finish—likely a win or a Top-3 in both the 3M Open and next week’s Wyndham Championship—to secure a postseason spot. He’s grouped with top-ranked Maverick McNealy and Max Homa, who are also chasing Playoff positions.
Theegala finished tied for sixth at last year’s 3M Open, proving the course suits his game, though he missed the cut in three previous appearances. His 2025 season has been inconsistent, with his best results being T-17 finishes at both the Genesis Invitational and the Zurich Classic (paired with Indo-British golfer Aaron Rai). He also missed the cut at the Open Championship last week.
Bhatia, meanwhile, plays alongside William Mouw and Jake Knapp. He’s had three Top-30 finishes in his last five starts—including a solid showing at The Open—but has yet to regain the form that saw him place third at THE PLAYERS earlier this season. He made his 3M Open debut last year and finished tied for 64th.
Both players are also in the running for an invitation to Tiger Woods’ prestigious Hero World Challenge, an exclusive Top-20 event that they competed in last year. Theegala finished fourth in that event, while Scottie Scheffler took home his second title.
With the Tour’s four majors, eight Signature Events, THE PLAYERS Championship, and 16 other tournaments now in the books, only the 3M Open and the Wyndham Championship remain before the three-event FedExCup Playoffs begin. Dozens of players in the 156-man field are vying for a last-minute surge into the Top-70, including Theegala.
Maverick McNealy, the highest-ranked player in the field, returns to Minnesota after finishing tied for third at last year’s 3M Open. He’s also aiming for a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team, having notched six Top-10 finishes so far this year.
Chris Gotterup, fresh off a victory at the Genesis Scottish Open and a solo third at The Open, returns stateside with strong momentum. Jhonattan Vegas also returns to the 3M Open looking to become the tournament’s first back-to-back winner.
Other notable contenders include Sam Burns (22nd in FedExCup standings), Wyndham Clark (25th), Gotterup (23rd), and Sungjae Im (29th), all of whom will be looking to lock in their positions ahead of the Playoffs. (Source: IANS)
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