America’s Sahith Theegala notched his first win on the PGA Tour at the Fortinet Championship by two shots. The result at Silverado Resort in Napa, California was much more convincing than the margin suggests. Theegala collected his maiden PGA Tour win at his 74th PGA Tour start. Australia’s Cam Davis was outright third.
Theegala won the 2020 Australian Masters of The Amateurs at Victoria Golf Club before turning professional in June that year. The rising star had threatened to breakthrough for his first PGA Tour title on occasions during the past two seasons collecting two runner up results and seven top 5 finishes.
The Californian-born golfer took a two-shot lead into the final round over Davis, Korea’s SH Kim and America’s Justin Thomas. With some of the best players in the world snapping at his heels, Theegala got to work early on Sunday. Theegala, who is ranked 37 in the world, extended his lead with three birdies over his opening five holes. He held a four or five shot lead for much of the back nine. Bogeys at the 10th and 18th holes bookended birdies at the 12th, 14th and 16th holes. Theegala carded a 4-under 68 final round. He added the solid score to earlier rounds of 68, 64 and 67 to reach 21-under.
Kim finished at 19-under in solo second place. The 25-year-old was searching for his maiden PGA Tour title. Kim finished with a bogey-free 4-under 68.
Cam Davis made a late run on the back nine to vault up the leaderboard into third place at 17-under. The 28-year-old from Sydney fell out of contention early in the round dropping three shots to par through 11 holes. The former Australian Open winner showcased his immense talent picking up five shots at the closing seven holes. His stunning run included a chip in eagle from 68 feet at the par 5, 12th hole. He then produced birdies at the 14th, 16th and 18th holes to sign for a 2-under 70.
Lucas Herbert was the only other player from Down Under to make the weekend. The Victorian opened the event with an electrifying 9-under 63. The impressive round included a run of six consecutive birdies on the back nine. Herbert fell out of contention with rounds of 75, 71 and 72 to fall back to 7-under and finish in a tie for 30th place.
Max Homa was looking for a third straight Fortinet Championship title. The 32-year-old from California scored a 3-under 69 on Sunday to finish in a tie for 7th place.
The PGA Tour takes a break for the Ryder Cup and resumes on October 5-8 for the Sanderson Farms Championship staged at The Country Club of Jackson in Mississippi. Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes is the defending champion.
1. Sahith Theegala -21
2. SH Kim -19
3. Cam Davis -17
4. Eric Cole -16
5. Justin Thomas -15
6. Brendon Todd -14
T7. Troy Merritt -13
T7. Max Homa -13
T7. Callum Warren -13
T7. Matt Kuchar -13
Other Australians
T30. Lucas Herbert -7
MC. Geoff Ogilvy
MC. Harrison Endycott
MC. Aaron Baddeley
MC. Cameron Percy
MC. Greg Chalmers
Photo credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Getty Images
