Growing up playing on public golf courses in California doesn’t sound like special training. But for Sahith Theegala, those early rounds might actually be his biggest advantage.

This week, at his press conference before the tournament on Monday, Theegala was very clear.

“For sure. I love this place, and growing up in California, I grew up on
munis with poa greens and kikuyu fairways and roughs. There's certainly an intangible aspect. I feel like I have an advantage out here. There's just some lies where I can't even explain what I do, to be honest, but I just kind of know how the ball is going to come out. It's a bit of a calculated guess, obviously, but just that comfort level is huge,” he said at Riviera Country Club on February 17, 2026. 

He has played at Riviera five times and made the cut every time. In 2026, he already has two top-10 finishes in five events. The results speak for themselves.

Interestingly, he almost didn’t even make it into the field. Theegala received the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption, a call that caught him off guard last Wednesday.

"The Genesis Invitational has played an important role in my journey to the PGA TOUR, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to compete in Charlie’s memory," Theegala had said at the time. And now, he's making it count.

From Muni Greens to Riviera's Toughest Test

Theegala’s comfort here isn’t only mental. Poa greens and kikuyu rough need a special feel. It takes years to learn, not just a few weeks.

“There are some shots where I can’t even explain what I do. I just know how the ball is going to come out,” he said 

That kind of experience can’t be copied in a coaching session. His driving was not very consistent at the start of 2026. But last week, he began hitting more fairways. Once that improved, the rest of his game improved, too.

Riviera’s 12th hole has been the hardest hole on average over the past five years. It doesn’t give players many chances. There is no easy pin position and no safe miss.

“You have to hit two very solid golf shots,” Theegala said on February 17, 2026. “There’s no bail-out.”

He was 19 the first time he played here as a Pepperdine student. He made the cut and later said that week changed how he saw himself as a golfer. Now, nine years later, he’s back on the same course in the same city, and his game seems to be coming together at just the right time.

What do you think about Theegala’s chances at the Genesis Invitational? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar