The Open 2025: Sahith Theegala back in time from injury for his 'favourite' tournament

Portrush: Sahith Theegala is back in time from his injury for what he says is his favourite tournament other than the Masters. And he is ready for the 153rd Open at Portrush. Theegala, who played his maiden Open in 2022 at the 150th Open, was looking forward to this one, more so after having a great season in 2024 where he was second in the 72-hole scores at the Tour Championship.

He was third overall in the FedExCup standings, even after calling a penalty on himself that cost him one place in standings and two and a half million dollars. The Indian-American would have been justified in hoping for a ‘big’ season in 2024. Yet, his season never really got going, and then he was ‘injured’. Theegala played the Masters and made the cut to finish T-29. Then came the problems. But now after a few missed cuts, withdrawals and no finishes better than T-17 at Genesis, he is back at a tournament he loves. Theegala plays the first round at Portrush with another player with an Indian touch, Aaron Rai, an Indo-British player whose grandparents were of Indian origin. The third player is Harry Hall of the US. Akshay Bhatia, the other Indian-American in the field, plays with two in-form players, Sepp Straka of Austria and American Benjamin Griffin. Theegala, Bhatia and Rai made the elite Tour Championship in 2024 and that gave them an exemption through 2026.

After a good short-game session Theegala said, “Yeah, it feels good (to be back). Monday was the first time I hit drivers really. So just getting into golf speed was tricky. I wanted to go full out, but I’m on a ball count, pitch count. So I try to limit my swings. Today was the best day,” he said ahead of the 153rd Open. “Body feels great. I’m fully healthy, which is the first time in a long time. So I’m excited to get going, but I just need to be careful of not doing too much.

So it was fun to have a chipping session there for the first time in a while so I feel good. Not quite up to full speed yet but am fully healthy and (it is) green light so just got to work my way into it a little slowly.” The injury had taken a long time. “It was just frustrating because it wasn’t big injuries, it wasn’t injuries that I was doing in a cast, in a surgery, nothing like that.

It was just that I needed to rest. It was like initially I said six to 12 weeks, but my strain did heal a little bit in the three months.”

He added, “I completely did nothing for 5 to 6 weeks. I started getting back in the gym a couple of weeks ago. And then (when) started golfing just a week ago. I feel good. It was just like I kept going through little injuries that eventually built up. My whole golf swing and my body was not working properly. I am feeling good about my game and have had some good sessions, but am not overdoing things.” There is some disappointment that he may not make the FedExCup play-offs as there are only a couple of events left after this week.

“The only unfortunate part is I have only got two more events the rest of the season before playoffs and I am not going to make playoffs unless I win an event earlier or like two top threes..” Meanwhile, with the draw out, the defending champion Xander Schauffele, who described his win at The 152nd Open as the sweetest of his life, has returned the Claret Jug and is paired for the first two days with US Open winner JJ Spaun and two-time major champion Jon Rahm.