Honolulu, Hawaii — The PGA Tour opens its 2026 season this week at the Sony Open, with Sahith Theegala arriving in Hawaii determined to turn the page after an injury-disrupted year.
Once ranked as high as No. 11 in the world, the 27-year-old Californian saw his momentum stall in 2025 as injuries curtailed his schedule and forced him into a prolonged search for form during the fall.
The new season represents a chance to rebuild confidence and post stronger finishes as he works his way back toward the top tier of the game.
Key Facts
• Theegala began 2025 with a minor oblique strain in early March that spiraled into a debilitating neck injury by late April, forcing him to withdraw from the PGA Championship and miss two major championships this season.
• The 27-year-old Indian-American golfer currently ranks around 120th in the world and is not guaranteed PGA Tour status beyond 2026, as his top-30 exemption from the 2024 TOUR Championship expires after this season.
• At the Sony Open (January 15-18, 2026), Theegala posted a strong 66 in one round after an opening that included three straight bogeys, positioning himself competitively for the weekend at Waialae Country Club.
Theegala's journey through 2025 was marked by a single swing that changed everything. What started as a routine oblique tweak in early March evolved into a severe neck injury by late April as his body compensated for the original pain.
The injury forced him to confront a difficult reality about his body. Doctors discovered what they called a "ticking time bomb" in his posture that would have eventually led to catastrophic back injuries similar to those experienced by fellow tour pros Will Zalatoris and Daniel Berger.
He wasn't using his lower back properly, instead placing all pressure on his upper thoracic spine.
Theegala spent months rehabilitating, not just physically but mentally. By late summer, he finally felt his body responding.
His focus heading into 2026 has been clear and purposeful. Trainers worked with him to correct his swing mechanics and posture, teaching him to engage his glutes and lower back properly.
Theegala explained while standing on the 18th tee at Sea Island in November, demonstrating his new core engagement technique.
The stakes for this season are particularly high. Without guaranteed status on the tour, Theegala faces stiff competition for sponsor exemptions and is not currently positioned to qualify for major championships.
His early-season schedule includes four tournaments in Hawaii and Arizona, where he'll attempt to play himself into higher-profile Signature Events and prove he's ready to reclaim his place among golf's elite.
Entering the Sony Open after narrowly missing the cut at the RSM Classic, Theegala showed resilience with a 66 at Waialae that demonstrates the mindset fueling his comeback. Despite struggling early with three consecutive bogeys, he posted five birdies over his final six holes on another day, showcasing the fighting spirit that helped him secure two PGA Tour victories earlier in his career.
This gratitude, paired with the urgency of his status situation, is driving him forward into 2026 with renewed determination.
Do You Know?
Theegala has won two PGA Tour events since turning professional in 2020, demonstrating the kind of talent that once had him ranked as high as No. 11 globally—a meteoric rise that injury temporarily derailed but hasn't extinguished.
Key Terms
• Oblique strain: A muscle injury on the side of the torso that stabilizes the core during rotational movements like golf swings.
• Strokes Gained: A statistical measure comparing a golfer's scoring performance to a baseline, used to analyze specific aspects like driving, approach shots, and putting.
• Top-30 exemption: A special status granted to top finishers in tournaments that guarantees tour eligibility for a specified period.
• Signature Events: High-profile, limited-field tournaments on the PGA Tour featuring the sport's best players.
• FedExCup: The PGA Tour's season-long points competition that culminates in playoff events and determines annual rankings.
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