SAHITH THEEGALA CALLS PENALTY ON HIMSELF THAT COULD COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
ATLANTA — Strokes are expensive in the $100 million Tour Championship, and Sahith Theegala had to give two back to the field after calling a penalty on himself on the par-4 third hole Saturday at East Lake Golf Club.
After his drive found the right fairway bunker, Theegala hit his second shot onto the green from 149 yards. But after two-putting from 39 feet, Theegala alerted PGA Tour rules official Mike Stiller that he believed he’d brushed the sand with his clubhead on the start of the backswing—considered testing the sand, a violation of Rule 12.2b—and was assessed a two-shot penalty.
NBC broadcasters studied a slow-motion replay of the shot and had trouble ascertaining whether or not Theegala indeed had brushed the sand.
“Wow, I don’t see much there Dan,” analyst Kevin Kisner said to host Dan Hicks. “I’d be arguing with Deuce [lead rules official Mark Dusbabek] again when I got done—‘Give me my two shots back.’”
“The thing that’s interesting about this,” Dusbabek said on the broadcast, “is that Sahith called it on himself. He’s gone to our official and said I touched the sand.”
Later, Dusbabek returned to the broadcast and said officials had confirmed via video that Theegala had moved sand on his backswing, noting there was a "ridge" of sand behind the club that was no longer there after Theegala's swing. Dusbabek said Theegala was notified on the course that the penalty was confirmed.
Remarkably, counting the two-shot penalty, Theegala still shot 66, thanks to making five straight birdies to end his round, and sits alone in third at 17 under. After finishing, Theegala said he and playing partner Xander Schaufffele agreed that he should consult with an official after his bunker shot.
"Intuition, it felt like I moved the sand," Theegala said. "It was sitting in my mind. If I went back after the round, looked that up and found out that it was a two-shot penalty, I would be DQ'd right now. So I am glad I brought it up right away. I know the rules of golf a little bit better now. There is a lot of silly stuff you can do in the bunker. You can chuck a club in the bunker ... you can use your golf club as a stand in the bunker. As long as it's not right next to your ball.
"There's a lot of things you can do. But unfortunately if it's in the area affecting the lie and the swing of your shot, regardless of intent, it's a two-shot penalty."
In the aftermath, Theegala had to get himself right mentally, and he clearly did so, playing his final 15 holes in six under.
"It was tough. I got very upset," he said. "I don't know if the cameras saw that, but I chucked my water bottle. Just in the moment. I wear my emotions on my sleeve. Tough to not get upset about that. I made a huge par on 4. Thought that saved my round."
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