Sahith Theegala is in the doghouse despite finishing third in the Tour Championship.

Sahith Theegala, a 26-year-old professional golfer, recently concluded a remarkable performance at the Tour Championship held in Atlanta. His impressive showing at this prestigious event earned him a substantial payday, placing him in third position behind the tournament winner Scottie Scheffler and runner-up Colin Morikawa. Theegala finished with a total score of -24, which left him six strokes behind the leader, Scheffler, but a comfortable five strokes ahead of a trio of golfers—Russell Henley, Adam Scott, and Xander Schauffele—who were tied for fourth place.

This result marked one of the finest performances of Theegala’s burgeoning career, despite the challenge he faced when he self-reported a two-shot penalty during the third round on Saturday. In a display of honesty and adherence to the rules, Theegala informed a referee that he had inadvertently disturbed some sand while making a backswing in a fairway bunker on the par-4 third hole. His integrity in calling the penalty on himself demonstrated a commendable level of sportsmanship, even though it cost him a shot at a higher finish and potentially more prize money.

Theegala’s performance at the Tour Championship, despite the setback, was rewarded with a paycheck exceeding £5.7 million, making it one of the richest events on the PGA Tour. However, his financial prudence did not extend to his travel arrangements. Upon returning home, Theegala opted not to upgrade their economy flight seats to first-class or private travel for himself and his partner, Juju Julianna.

Juju Julianna, who is a frequent supporter of Theegala at tour events, took to social media to express her dissatisfaction with this decision. Through a TikTok video, she humorously highlighted the discomfort she experienced during the flight, exacerbated by the cramped economy seating. In her post, she quipped, “When my boyfriend wins $7.5 million in FedEx Cup and we don’t fly private home,” before demonstrating the physical strain she was under. Juju revealed that her shoulder was in considerable pain and that her arm had limited movement, though she appeared to be exaggerating for comedic effect, as her arm was not in a sling.

Despite her playful complaints, Juju showed understanding and support for Theegala’s decision to self-report the penalty, which arguably cost him an additional £3.8 million, given he ended up just two shots shy of securing the runner-up position behind Morikawa. Theegala himself reflected positively on the incident, stating, “So I am glad I brought it up right away. I know the rules of golf a little bit better now.” He elaborated on the nuances of bunker play, noting that there are many regulations and allowances in the bunker that players need to be aware of. “There is a lot of silly stuff you can do in the bunker. You can chuck a club in the bunker, you can use your golf club as a stand in the bunker. As long as it’s not right next to your ball. There’s a lot of things you can do. But unfortunately, if it’s in the area affecting the lie and the swing of your shot, regardless of intent, it’s a two-shot penalty.”

This experience, while costing him additional prize money, served as a valuable lesson for Theegala and underscored his commitment to the principles of fair play and sportsmanship in professional golf.