SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Sahith Theegala frolicked together with his dad and mom within the gamers’ eating room and grabbed a chew to eat throughout what ended up being a protracted climate delay.
With no room to take a seat within the clubhouse at TPC Scottsdale, Theegala went out to his automobile to get heat, take heed to music and play chess on his telephone.
The break did nothing to sluggish him down.
Theegala returned to birdie his first gap following the delay, capturing a 6-under 65 to take the early lead within the unfinished first spherical of the Phoenix Open on Thursday.
“The climate was, it was not good, [but] these final 4 holes felt nice, so I feel there may be some good scores [Friday] with the wave that simply teed off,” Theegala mentioned. “It may be chilly, however hopefully no rain and wind. We’ll see. I performed nice and that is all I can do, actually.”
5 days after climate shortened the AT&T Pebble Seaside Professional-Am to 54 holes, storms adopted the PGA Tour to the desert.
A cold morning gave technique to wind and heavy rain that left swimming pools of water on the greens at TPC Scottsdale. The Stadium Course was deemed unplayable round midday, resulting in a delay of 3½ hours.
About half the sphere was in a position to end following the delay, leaving the remainder to return Friday morning to renew their first rounds.
Theegala returned to sink an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-4 sixth gap and closed with two pars. His closest pursuer was Andrew Novak, who was 5 below by means of 9 holes.
S.H. Kim eagled the par-5 thirteenth and obtained to six below with consecutive birdies beginning on No. 5, however closed with two bogeys to shoot 67, matching Shane Lowry. Jordan Spieth shot 68.
Two-time defending champion Scottie Scheffler was 1 by means of six holes in his bid to develop into the primary PGA Tour participant to win the identical match three straight occasions since Steve Stricker on the John Deere Traditional from 2009-11.
“I used to be stunned at what number of followers have been out right here when it was raining sideways and blowing 20, and freezing,” Theegala mentioned.
Theegala broke by means of together with his first PGA Tour win final fall on the Fortinet Championship, incomes a spot in The Sentry to open the 2024 season. The previous Pepperdine star completed second in Maui, a shot behind Chris Kirk, and tied for twentieth at Pebble Seaside final week.
Theegala, who tied for third on the 2022 Phoenix Open, kicked off this 12 months’s match with three birdies in his opening 9 after beginning on No. 10. He chipped in on the par-4 second to start out a run of three straight birdies earlier than a bogey on No. 5 dropped him to five below.
Then the rain and wind hit.
Six teams managed to complete earlier than the climate rolled in, leaving a majority of the sphere biding their time within the clubhouse — and their vehicles.
“It obtained actually unhealthy in direction of the top, it was fairly powerful,” mentioned Lowry, who additionally frolicked in his automobile with a few buddies. “We got here again out, the wind was not blowing as robust, however the ball was going nowhere, and it was chilly and form of powerful.”
Hundreds of followers remained on the stadium sixteenth gap — after persevering with to imbibe, little question — and let loose a roar when the horn sounded to renew play.
Theegala took benefit of a booming drive for his birdie on No. 6 and Kim bogeyed the par-4 eighth after pulling his second shot left of the inexperienced. Kim then three-putted from 31 toes for bogey on No. 9.
Novak sank a 28-foot eagle putt on No. 4 and had three straight birdies earlier than the spherical was referred to as due to darkness.
“I will attempt to keep off my telephone tomorrow,” Theegala mentioned. “I do know it should be some time till I tee off, however hopefully I tee off tomorrow.”