NAPLES, Fla. — While Rose Zhang and Sahith Theegala are the youngest team in the field this week at 20 and 26 years old, respectively, the pair are right in the mix after day one of the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburón Golf Club. Friday saw the field take on a scramble format, and the pair, who have dubbed themselves Team TheeRoseGala, made four pars and 14 birdies en route to a first-round 58, a day-one effort that has them sitting in a tie for fourth and two back of the lead held by Nelly Korda and Tony Finau.
Zhang and Theegala got off to a bit of a slow start, making birdie on No. 1 and then parring holes 2 and 3. They picked up the pace with three consecutive birdies on the fourth, fifth and sixth holes before making another par on No. 7, turning up the gas again with birdies on the par-3 8th and par-4 9th holes to turn in 30.
Zhang and Theegala then caught fire on the back nine, recording eight straight birdies on holes 10 through 17 to get to 14-under overall, and closed out their round with a par on the last to post a 58 and sit inside the top five with the foursomes format on deck on Saturday.
“It was great. It was kind of the start that makes it a little bit less stressful the next couple of days because you know a lot of teams are going to go low,” said Theegala. “It was a lot of fun, kind of feeding off each other, a little ham and egg, which was great. I didn't even realize we made that many birdies in a row, just kind of strung it together. That's usually when the best golf ends up happening.”
Zhang was impressed with how many fans showed up on Friday to watch the first round and how much energy they brought to Tiburón Golf Club, good vibes that she hopes to see more of over the next two days in Naples, Fla.
“Energy was buzzing. It's great to have both tours come together,” said the 2023 Mizuho Americas Open champion. “For a lot of people, it's something so new that they come out and they want to see what kind of formats are going to be played out here. It's also really cool that the next couple of days will be different formats (so as) not to make it as boring and more exciting for all the spectators to watch. It's been incredible to see everyone supporting this type of event.”
Unlike many of the 16 two-person teams comprising this week’s field, Zhang and Theegala have known each other for quite some time, both growing up in southern California and finding a lot of success as they rose through the junior, amateur and collegiate golf ranks. But they really developed a relationship through Fit Motion Lab, a performance facility at which they both train, and it was the friendship they formed while working out together that laid the foundation for their partnership at the Grant Thornton Invitational.
“I grew up playing the PGA Tour Junior Tour, and I saw (Sahith) hoisting up SCPGA trophies as well. He probably doesn't know me from way back when I was 11,” said Zhang. “We have the same trainer so we've been able to work out in the gym and know each other a little bit better off the golf course. That's how our friendship started.
“Going into this event, at least for me, I didn't expect myself to be here because I had to turn pro first. Really had to level up to his standard and his level. It was so fun just to be able to have this partnership happen and we (have) had a really good time together.”
Zhang and Theegala both recognize what a privilege it is to be teeing it up in an event like this and are savoring the opportunity they have to see how things are done on the other side of the aisle. Theegala – like most of the rest of the golf world is when it comes to Zhang’s game – has been super impressed by what he’s seen out of his partner this week, but he also got a taste of what it was like to compete alongside a world No. 1 player on Friday at Tiburón.
“The first thing I said when I walked up to Geno (Bonnalie, Joel Dahmen’s caddie) on the first tee, I was like this is so cool, we're essentially playing with two of the best -- I mean, Lilia is No. 1 and had an unbelievable season, and to play with the No. 1 player in the world, I've never played with a No. 1 player in the world,” said Theegala of playing with Lilia Vu and Joel Dahmen in the first round. “Now I've played with two, the current No. 1 and the former No. 1 amateur golfer for so long and probably a future No. 1. It's really cool. Me and Joel were joking that Lilia and Rose will be better than maybe we ever will be.
“It’s cool to see how they dissect the golf course. They're just machines. It's a different game almost. I think some of these fairways are very narrow and they're still getting it 270, 275 right down the middle and we're not that much longer than that. Even the approach shots are just so much tighter, the dispersion is tighter.”
Zhang has been taking notes too, seeing many things that the PGA Tour players do that she would like to emulate in her own game. She’s also been admiring her partner’s physical ability and mental tenacity on the golf course, the latter of which Zhang hopes to use as inspiration as Team TheeRoseGala looks to continue the momentum generated by their Friday 58 over the next two days of play.
“It was so incredible just watching from on TV (Sahith’s) athleticism and his ability to get out of trouble. He makes birdie from practically anywhere, from the bushes, from the trees. It's cool because I feel like you really have to have a touch for that,” said Zhang of Theegala. “And his overall demeanor on the golf course. I love the drive that he has when he's out there. I've definitely taken that and put it as inspiration.
“I have so much respect for how the PGA players play. Being able to see them in person and be alongside them, be in the same group and play the same golf course at the same time is a great honor for me. There's been so much for me to learn and slowly grow, develop.”
Looks like @SRTheegala came to the @gtinvitational as a player and a fan 👀💪 pic.twitter.com/lm6fHuTxZd
— LPGA (@LPGA) December 7, 2023
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