Sahith Theegala has nothing to prove playing in Bermuda but everything to gain
Cameron Jourdan- Sahith Theegala is competing in the Butterfield Bermuda Championship despite already securing his PGA Tour card for next year.
- Theegala is using the tournament to get more competitive repetitions after injuries hampered his summer season.
- After starting the year ranked 13th, he has dropped to 97th in the world but aims to play his way into major events next season.
- Theegala recently became engaged to his long-time girlfriend, Juju Chan, after proposing in Hawaii.
SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda — Sahith Theegala doesn't need to be in Bermuda.
The 27-year-old has his PGA Tour card locked up for next year regardless of his FedEx Cup finish thanks to his win at the 2023 Fortinet Championship. As arguably the most popular player in the field at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship and one of a handful in the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking, Theegala has nothing to prove this week at Port Royal Golf Course.
But he's on the small island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, playing in the penultimate event of the 2025 PGA Tour season. Neck and oblique injuries hampered Theegala in the summer. He went from late April to September between made cuts, playing only five times in that span.
"Bottom line this is still a PGA Tour event, and every PGA Tour event that I play is an honor and I don't take it for granted," Theegala said. "A lot of people ask me why I'm here this week because I'm exempt next year and don't need to try to get in the top hundred or anything like that. Again, it's just a place that I have a lot of good memories of. I feel like my game is starting to get in a good place, just wanted to get more competitive reps.
"I just thought it would be a great week, just put me in a good mindset, you know, on island time."
Theegala started the year at 13th in the world and has dropped to 97th, mainly due to his time missed because of injury. He said he felt fully healthy for the first time after his injuries at the Procore Championship, the first of four fall events he has played, and is trying to find his groove to head into 2026.
His best finish this season was T-17 at the Genesis Invitational, though he has been trending in the fall. He opened with a T-38 at the Procore before tallying consecutive T-27s in Japan at the Baycurrent Classic and the Bank of Utah Championship.
Now in Bermuda, Theegala has plenty of motivation to continue his strong play.
"Feel like I'm kind of due for a fresh start next season, which is fun. I've got to play my way into everything. The majors, the Signature Events, I'm not in anything, so I'm excited for that challenge," Theegala said. "Kind of the goal is to get into those Signature Events and to stay healthy. I have a good blueprint."
Vibes are also high for Theegala after proposing to his long-time girlfriend, Juju Chan, last month.
He said he's glad the process is over, even with how exciting it is, but wedding prep has already begun.
"I'm not a planner. She literally plans everything in our relationship, where we eat, flights, booking stuff," Theegala said. "Literally does everything outside of golf in our relationship. So for me to plan this was a lot of work and a lot of stress. Thankfully her sister and her dad helped me a lot. Kind of had to keep it a secret for over a month, just kind of coordinating everybody was difficult.
"Again, her sister helped me a lot, which was huge. Still, it was like had to keep it a secret. Again, it's so hard to hide a secret from her. I think she had an idea especially when I was like hey, let's go to Hawaii between Japan and Utah. We're going to have to go back to California anyway, it's like right in the middle. I think she actually bought that."
Theegala finished 74th in 2021 during his lone start at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, his fourth PGA Tour event after earning his card via the Korn Ferry Tour. He knows the wind is going to blow and shares the sentiment going through the locker room this week that it's the best condition the course has been in.
He got off to a difficult start Thursday, bogeying his final three holes to sign for a 76, the same score as defending champion Rafael Campos. While the results weren't what he wanted, the process remains the same, and he's staying patient hoping for a Friday bounceback as the ramp up to 2026 continues.
"It's just good to be back."