Pro, in contention for $25 million prize, calls penalty on himself

After Theegala and the official discussed for a moment, PGA Tour lead TV rules and video analyst Mark Dusbabek came on the NBC broadcast to confirm Theegala was accessed a two-stroke penalty for breaking Rule 12.2b.

“He feels that he touched the sand on his last hole when he was taking his backswing,” Dusbabek said. “It is a penalty if you touch the sand while your ball is in the sand. We have confirmation that he feels that he did, so it’s going to be a two-shot penalty for him.”

This is the first event held at the newly renovated East Lake and NBC analyst Brad Faxon was quick to point out Theegala was close to the lip of the first right-hand fairway bunker on three.

“So he was trying to hit a shot that he had to hit up in the air,” Faxon said. “A lot of times, you put a little bit more weight back on your right foot and the takeaway would be lower because of that.

“That stinks and that’s pretty cool that he would admit it because no one else would have seen it.”

Theegala had just made a 25-foot putt at No. 2 to get to 13 under, in solo 4th and seven shots behind Scottie Scheffler in the race for the Tour Championship and $25 million FedEx Cup titles. After the ruling, his par on the 3rd hole was changed to a double bogey and he dropped back to 11 under, in a tie for fifth.

Smylie Kauffman reported Theegala slammed his water bottle on the ground in frustration after getting the ruling.

After Theegala eventually played his approach to the 4th hole, the NBC team took a slow-mo, zoomed-in look at Theegala’s bunker shot at No. 3 and none could identify where Theegala touched the sand.

“I don’t see much there,” analyst Kevin Kisner said. “I’d be arguing with [Dusbabek] when I got done. Give me my two shots back.”

That’s when NBC brought Dusbabek back on to confirm that it was Theegala himself who self-reported the infraction. Self-reporting penalties is nothing new in golf, a collegiate player self-reported fixing aeration marks in a U.S. Open qualifier last year (This writer self-reported inadvertently moving a ball in an amateur qualifier this past spring). But it’s a rarity on the PGA Tour where cameras and spectators witness every single shot.

“He knows, I guess the guy knows,” said Dan Hicks. “I guess he felt it and knew that he had done it.”

After the team took another look at Theegala’s entire time over the ball, Kisner agreed.

“The hitter always knows,” the analyst who is still somewhat active on the PGA Tour. “You know when it’s going to be short. You know when it’s going to be long and you know if you brush that sand. He felt like he could feel the sand along the club when he took it back.”

Dusbabek confirmed that officials would discuss the incident with Theegala again after the round and show him the video. But officials approached Theegala again about 30 minutes later after he walked off the 6th tee.

Despite some fans near Theegala when he played No. 3 telling him they did not see him touch the sand, the Tour discovered video evidence proving Theegala’s claim.

“When you see the video, there is a ridge of sand, right behind the ball, that you can see has been taken away when he takes his backswing,” Dusbabek said.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Jack Hirsh

Golf.com Editor

Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his high school golf team and recently returned to the program to serve as head coach. Jack also still *tries* to remain competitive in local amateurs. Before joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. He can be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.