‘What’s the Point… of Giving Up?’: Rookie Golfer’s Brutally Honest Mindset Turns Heads
Silhouette asian golfer playing golf during beautiful sunset,Thailand people model released
Silhouette asian golfer playing golf during beautiful sunset,Thailand people model released
Sudarshan Yellamaraju wasn't just another rookie at the PLAYERS Championship. The 24-year-old turned heads with a top-10 finish and his mindset on the greens.
Yellamaraju finished inside the top 10 at TPC Sawgrass on Sunday, March 14, 2026, in Ponte Vedra Beach. It was his best result as a PGA TOUR rookie.
Not many people expected such a successful run, and even he didn’t see that coming. So during the post-tournament press conference, reporters asked about his approach to competition.
"I'm so committed and 100 percent willing to play this game, that what's the point in trying to... there's no excuse to not have focus for, whatever, the four or five hours that you play, especially if this is your job and this is what you want to do," Yellamaraju said.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL - MARCH 14: Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Canada plays a tee shot on the 12th hole during THE PLAYERS Championship on March 14, 2026 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl. Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire GOLF: MAR 14 PGA, Golf Herren THE PLAYERS Championship EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260314046067
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL - MARCH 14: Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Canada plays a tee shot on the 12th hole during THE PLAYERS Championship on March 14, 2026 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl. Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire GOLF: MAR 14 PGA, Golf Herren THE PLAYERS Championship EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260314046067
"What's the point in just kind of not being resilient and just kind of giving up?" he told the media.
He spent most of Sunday fighting from behind. At one point, he was three shots back on a course that has troubled many great players. But he stayed patient, kept playing his game, and finished better than he even expected.
Sudarshan Yellamaraju is a self-taught golfer
Sudarshan Yellamaraju's dad had moved the family from India to Winnipeg for an IT job when he was four. While he loved cricket, he gradually started liking golf.
Thankfully, his father was there to help as the two of them just figured things out together. They watched videos, tried different ideas, kept what worked, and dropped what didn’t.
His first clubs were rental clubs with steel shafts that were too big for him. Yet, Yellamaraju started watching Tiger Woods on TV and decided that was what he wanted to do.
However, the biggest challenge in Winnipeg was the snow. The ground stays frozen for much of the year, and the outdoor season is short. So most of his practice happened inside a dome, hitting balls again and again.
While he didn't get a spot on the PGA Tour without any guidance, his early days taught Yellamaraju the resilience and work ethic needed to play with the best.
So what do you think? Does Yellamaraju have what it takes to win on tour? Drop your take in the comments.
Written by
Sneha Abraham
Edited by
Sagnik Bagchi