Sahith Theegala arrives at Torrey Pines with momentum after Top-10 at American Express
Sahith Theegala heads into this week’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines riding a timely boost in form after a Top-10 finish at last week’s American Express. The Indian-American appears to have turned a corner after a difficult stretch, and he will look to build on that confidence as the PGA Tour’s West Coast Swing reaches one of its toughest venues.
Theegala is not the only player of Indian origin in the field. Akshay Bhatia, Aaron Rai and Sudarshan Yellamaraju also tee it up this week, giving the tournament a strong Indian-origin presence.
The Farmers Insurance Open will be played across Torrey Pines’ North and South Courses, with the long and demanding South Course expected to provide the sternest test. The field is deep, with 10 of the top 20 players in the world rankings in action as the Tour contests its third title of the 2026 season.
Theegala enters the week as a potential dark horse. His Top-10 at the American Express was his first since the 2024 Procore Championship and a clear sign his health issues are behind him. Torrey Pines has also suited him well — he has made the cut in all four of his appearances here, including a best finish of T4 in the 2022–23 season.
His putting has once again been a strength, and his driving is trending in the right direction — a key requirement on the South Course. If that continues, Theegala could be in the mix on Sunday.
Bhatia is still searching for rhythm early in 2026 after missing the cut in his lone start so far. Rai and Yellamaraju will also be looking for sharper weeks on a course that rewards patience and precision.
One of the major storylines is the return of Brooks Koepka, who makes his first PGA Tour start since the 2022 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play after four seasons with LIV Golf. Playing under the Tour’s Returning Member Program, the five-time major champion has also committed to next week’s WM Phoenix Open and the Cognizant Classic.
Among the in-form players to watch is Ryan Gerard, who has opened the season with back-to-back runner-up finishes — at the Sony Open and the American Express — continuing a run of consistency that began with another second-place finish in Mauritius in December.
Other contenders include Xander Schauffele, back after missing last year’s event through injury, and Ludvig Åberg, who impressed at Torrey Pines last season before winning the Genesis Invitational on the same course.
Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay, Si Woo Kim, J.J. Spaun, Chris Gotterup and Hideki Matsuyama round out a strong field for what promises to be a compelling week at Torrey Pines.
Photo – PGAT
