Sahith Theegala Recruited Rose Zhang When She Was Still An Amateur to Pair Up in PGA Tour-LPGA Mixed Event

Theegala told Sports Illustrated he's 'playing chess out here' while forming a duo with one the LPGA's biggest new stars.

When Sahith Theegala got wind of the Grant Thornton Invitational—the reimagined PGA Tour and LPGA co-sanctioned event—he knew Rose Zhang would be his dream partner. But there was one problem: the hotshot 20-year-old of Stanford University was still an amateur.

“I half jokingly asked her [to team up] before she even turned pro,” Theegala told Sports Illustrated. “Playing chess out here.” 

Thinking two steps ahead apparently paid off. Zhang turned professional after she completed her sophomore season at Stanford, and she’s officially joining forces with Theegala at the upcoming team-format event. The tournament will take place at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Fla. from Dec. 8-10, marking the first PGA Tour and LPGA combined event since the final installment of the JCPenney Classic in 1999. 

Zhang boasted one of the most decorated amateur careers in women’s golf history when she turned professional. And since taking that next step, she remains on a trajectory toward global stardom. The LPGA rookie made history in June when she won the Mizuho Americas Open—her first tournament as a professional. Zhang then went on to post three consecutive top-10 finishes in major championships. 

“She’s just such a beast,” Theegala says. “It’s so impressive how she shuts out all the noise and just plays her game. She goes about her business. She’s a straight baller. She seems like such a hard worker, too.”

BREAKING: Rising stars @rosezhang + @srtheegala to align in Naples at the #GrantThorntonInv! pic.twitter.com/Oq8BOuILkk

— Grant Thornton Invitational (@gtinvitational) September 7, 2023

The tournament first announced the pairing on social media on Thursday. Theegala and Zhang join Nelly Korda and Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler and Jessica Korda, and the Canadian duo of Corey Conners and Brooke Henderson. 

Much like Conners and Henderson, Theegala and Zhang share similar backgrounds. They both grew up in Southern California—Theegala in Chino Hills and Zhang in Irvine—and happen to train at the same gym, FitMotionLab.  

“We’re both from SoCal and have worked with the same trainer for six years or so now. She’s actually worked with him longer than I have,” Theegala says. 

Theegala and Zhang have been training at the same gym in Southern California for over six years.  / Sahith Theegala

Part of Theegala’s excitement surrounding the Grant Thornton stems from his successful history in team-format events. The 25-year-old paired up with Tom Hoge at the 2022 QBE Shootout, where they ultimately captured the joint title. 

The Pepperdine product continued to take off on the PGA Tour in 2023. He posted seven top-10 finishes and missed just four cuts all season. 

Theegala figures that in Naples, he's set up for success. He can thank his early recruiting tactics for that. 

“I'm just happy she's going to be carrying my butt in a few months,” Theegala says.