Sahith Theegala, a 27-year-old professional golfer, recently made the decision to withdraw from the Truist Championship. Now, he’s the third player to make this bold move this week. He reached that conclusion after Justin Rose pulled out due to illness. Michael Kim withdrew, citing a back injury. Though he has an unfortunate exit, Theegala at least goes home to prep for next week’s PGA Championship. The one-time tournament begins Thursday at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Coming into the Truist Championship ranked No. 31 in the world, Theegala experienced difficulty all week long. He got off to a great start with a birdie on the first hole in round three, but his game fell apart after that. Theegala ended the day with as many as four bogeys, a double and a triple on his card. His issues amounted to an 8-over 78, leaving him last among the 70-man field. Leading up to this one, he had shot 69-71 in the first two rounds of the tournament.
Theegala’s neck injury leaves questions as to whether he will be fully prepared for the PGA Championship. Heading into arguably the biggest tournament of his life, it is unclear how this injury will affect his game. The PGA Championship is one of the four annual majors on golf’s professional calendar. Naturally, fans are excitedly hoping to see Theegala make a speedy recovery and play.
Though Theegala’s withdrawal will naturally disappoint fans and his team, it’s a reminder of the physical task that professional golf requires. Injuries are a major factor in any athlete’s performance and healing time can be hard to judge, even for the best. Even as competitors tune up for the PGA Championship, Theegala’s experience reminds us to appreciate the brutal trials that all golfers face. These challenges are present both on- and off-course.
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