Sahith Theegala is one of four rookies on the USA team for the Presidents Cup, with the 26-year-old proving to be the final player to automatically qualify for the event in Royal Montreal this week.
Sahith Theegala is going to be one player a lot of fans will be excited to watch in the coming days, with the PGA Tour star enjoying such an impressive year – which culminated in a third place finish at The Tour Championship.
But not only is Theegala making his bow for the US in the Presidents Cup, but he is also the youngest player on Jim Furyk‘s team. Only Theegala and Russell Henley are yet to represent their country in a professional team event, with both Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman on last year’s Ryder Cup team.
Of course, much is made of the opening tee shot in these events. Players have spoken about struggling to get their ball to stay on their tee due to the nerves. So it is no surprise at all that Theegala is already starting to get the butterflies about that moment he steps onto the first at Royal Montreal.
Sahith Theegala opens up on his nerves ahead of the Presidents Cup
Speaking in his press conference ahead of the coming days, Theegala shared what Furyk has said to him to help him deal with those nerves ahead of his opening round.
“The first tee, yes. I’m going to be very – I’m nervous just thinking about it. I think about it, I get nervous, which is a good thing,” he said.
“But, like, Jim has been awesome. And he basically said, dude, there’s a hundred other guys that would love to be in your position. It’s you just channel that positive energy and you channel the excitedness and the nervousness and everything and use it as a good thing because, like you said, there’s a bunch of others guys that would kill to be in this position.
“It’s kind of a take advantage of the position you’re in. It’s an awesome opportunity to be able to put points up for your home country.
“So I’m going to be really nervous but I feel like I play some of my best golf when I’m really nervous. So I’m just looking forward to it. I’m going to fully embrace it.
“But it’s not often that you really, really think about a first tee shot. And I definitely have been really, really thinking about it. Kind of just want to get it over with. But I think that’s a good feeling.”
Jim Furyk facing tough selection decision ahead of Thursday’s opening session
Theegala is definitely the kind of player who could thrive in the cauldron of pressure that is the Presidents Cup. He often appears to play without fear, most definitely avoiding the conservative approach. With that, he could be particularly dangerous in the fourballs.
That may not be ideal as the two sides will be playing foursomes on the opening day. But Furyk would surely prefer to send his rookies out as soon as possible to ensure that they are not allowing the nerves to build.
In fairness, just two players will be sitting out the first day, and you would imagine that someone like Max Homa will be a prime candidate to be held back until Friday. Homa has been struggling with his game over the last few months, and he is not someone who has anything to prove in these events, having been exceptional at Quail Hollow and at the Ryder Cup.
If Furyk can pair Theegala with the right teammate, he could definitely be a revelation on his debut in the event.
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