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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Sahith Theegala returned from a prolonged climate delay to complete off a 6-under 65, taking the early lead within the unfinished first spherical of the Phoenix Open on Thursday.
5 days after climate shortened the AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am to 54 holes, storms adopted the PGA Tour to the desert.
A cold morning gave method 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 three 1/2 hours.
About half the sector 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 via 9 holes.
S.H. Kim eagled the par-5 thirteenth and bought 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 via six holes in his bid to turn into the primary PGA Tour participant to win the identical event three straight instances since Steve Stricker on the John Deere Traditional from 2009-11.
Theegala broke via along 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 Seashore final week.
Theegala, who tied for third on the 2022 Phoenix Open, kicked off this 12 months’s event with three birdies in his opening 9 after beginning on No. 10. He chipped in on the par-4 second to begin a run of three straight birdies earlier than a bogey on No. 5 dropped him to five below.
Then the rain and wind got here.
Six teams managed to complete earlier than the climate rolled in, leaving a majority of the sector biding their time within the clubhouse.
1000’s of followers remained on the stadium sixteenth gap – after persevering with to imbibe, little question – and set free 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 known as due to darkness.
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