Sahith Theegala claims maiden PGA Tour victory at Fortinet Championship
- Planet Sport writer
- 18 September 2023
Sahith Theegala held on to his third-round lead to claim his first-ever PGA Tour title at the Fortinet Championship in California on Sunday.
Theegala, having started the final round at Napa, California, with a two-stroke lead, picked up three shots in his first five holes as he mixed seven birdies and three bogeys in a closing 68.
"It feels like such a team win," said the Californian after the watershed win.
"It doesn't feel like a win just for myself, it's for everyone that's supporting me and kind of got me where I am today."
South Korea's SH Kim matched that to finish two strokes back in second with Australia’s Cam Davis two shots further adrift in third.
Ryder Cup captain's pick Justin Thomas, who started the day tied for second in search of a first win in a torrid year, dropped out of contention as he made four bogeys in the front nine.
An eagle three on the 12th helped him claw his round back to a level par 72 as he finished six shots back in fifth place.
"I'm excited and happy about where my game is going," Thomas told pgatour.com on Sunday.
"I'll try to learn from this and see what I can do better and just continue to improve and then get back to work. The time off was great, but it is exciting to play golf again and be in contention, and it's always more fun when you play better."
His Ryder Cup colleague Max Homa, the winner for the last two years, was two shots further back after a closing 69 alongside England's Callum Tarren.
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