Golf – Theegala starts steady as Åberg takes early lead
Golf – Sahith Theegala made a composed start to his campaign at the RBC Heritage, carding a 2-under 69 in the opening round of the prestigious USD 20 million event. The Indian-origin golfer finds himself tied for 27th after day one, six shots behind Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg, who set the pace with an impressive performance.
Strong opening puts Theegala in contention
Theegala began his round with confidence, quickly building momentum through a series of early birdies. He picked up three birdies within his first four holes and added another soon after, reaching an impressive 4-under within the opening stretch. His front nine reflected sharp control and effective shot-making, placing him among the early contenders.
Despite a minor setback on the third hole, where he dropped a shot, Theegala recovered immediately and maintained a steady rhythm. By the turn, he was well-positioned and looked capable of climbing further up the leaderboard.
Back nine proves more demanding
The second half of the round, however, presented tougher conditions. Theegala encountered difficulties on the 10th and 11th holes, conceding back-to-back bogeys. Although he managed to regain some ground with a birdie on the 15th, another dropped shot on the final hole saw him settle at 2-under for the day.
While the finish may not have matched his strong start, the overall performance keeps him within striking distance heading into the next rounds.
Bhatia and Yellamaraju face challenging starts
Akshay Bhatia, another player of Indian descent in the field, endured a difficult round, finishing at 2-over 73. His score places him tied for 65th. The round included three bogeys and just one birdie, reflecting a continuation of recent struggles following missed cuts in previous tournaments.
Sudarshan Yellamaraju also found the course demanding. His round began with a costly triple bogey on the opening hole, putting him immediately on the back foot. Although he recovered briefly with a birdie soon after, further errors, including a bogey on the 14th, resulted in a 3-over 74. He ends the day tied for 70th.
Åberg leads with flawless round
At the top of the leaderboard, Ludvig Åberg delivered a near-perfect performance. The Swedish golfer posted a bogey-free 8-under 63, taking a one-shot lead after the opening round. His consistency and precision throughout the day underline his growing reputation on the PGA Tour as he pursues another title.
Close behind, Harris English and Viktor Hovland both returned strong rounds of 7-under 64, keeping the pressure firmly on the leader. Their performances ensure a competitive contest heading into the subsequent rounds.
Other notable performances
Scottie Scheffler, who recently finished runner-up at The Masters, continued his steady form with a 3-under 68. He is currently tied for 20th and remains well within reach of the leaders.
Meanwhile, FedEx Cup leader Cameron Young had a relatively quiet start, finishing at even-par 71, placing him tied for 54th.
Defending champion Justin Thomas faced significant challenges in his opening round. He recorded a 5-over 76, leaving him near the bottom of the leaderboard in a tie for 80th, with considerable ground to make up in the coming rounds.
Tournament outlook
With several top players clustered near the top and conditions expected to remain competitive, the tournament is shaping up for an intense battle. Theegala’s promising start keeps him in contention, while others will be aiming for a strong comeback as the event progresses.