“Don’t cancel me please”: Sahith Theegala’s questionable statement finally explained by golf reporter Dan Rapaport

US Sahith Theegala recently found himself in choppy waters after using a term, 'Mongolian Reversal' at a press interview for the 2024 Presidents Cup. The term was deemed questionable and raised a few eyebrows.

However, golf reporter Dan Rapaport recently took to social media to clarify what the term actually means. He shared a video of Theegala using the phrase and then clubbed it with a few other golf videos to explain the term with examples. He explained what a 'Mongolian Reversal' is in the caption as well. He wrote:

"Mongolian Reversal (n.) - When you “do something cool” to steal a hole in match play."

Sahith Theegala had used the term while answering a question about his experience playing his first match at the Presidents Cup and whether he felt any nervousness. He had said:

"Match play is a funny, funny thing. There's always some Mongolians and things go the ways that you don't think it would go. But yeah, it was really intense. To finish how we finished was awesome, to get a point."

The 26-year-old was later asked what the term, 'Mongolians' meant. He answered:

"I heard them laughing when I said that. I realize I didn't say the full phrase. Not race intended or country intended, but Mongolian reversal, I don't even know how it originated,"

Theegala then answered from where he had picked up the term and it was another golfer.

"The first time I heard it was actually Fred Couples, a long time ago when I was watching TV. I guess it's just when your opponents are in a better place than you on the hole and you do something cool like make a long put,"

He further added:

"It looks like your opponents were going to win the hole when you hit the approach shots in, but you make the long putt and they miss the short putt, and all of a sudden looking like you're losing the hole to winning the hole,"

The Presidents Cup rookie then thanked the interviewer for giving him an opportunity to clarify himself and made an amusing statement about the prevalent cancel culture.

"Thank you for asking to clarify that. Mongolian reversal, yes. Don't cancel me, please."

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How is Sahith Theegala faring in the 2024 Presidents Cup?

Sahith Theegala at the 2024 Presidents Cup (Source: Getty)

US golfer Sahith Theegala automatically qualified for the 2024 Presidents Cup and is competing in the biennial tournament for the first time.

In the fourball event on Thursday, Theegala was paired with golf icon Collin Morikawa. The American duo went against Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee of the International team. The intense game saw several lead changes before Theegala and Morikawa secured the lead on the 12th hole. The pair managed to carry the lead till the 18th hole before securing the victory, 1-up.

The Indian-American golfer was all praise for his partner. He said in a press conference:

"I was very nervous, and I expected to be very nervous, but I was -- I knew Collin was a baller, but just his presence and his calming presence and how he goes about his process, he's just a silent killer, man,"

He further added:

"That kind of fired me up and settled me down, too, knowing that all these guys on this team are beasts, and just to be up close and personal with Collin, I've known him forever, we've never been able to play a team match together, it was awesome. It was super intense. I knew it would be. Just fought until the end,"

However, the two US golfers couldn't recreate the same magic in the round 2 foursome event. Sahith Theegala and Collin Morikawa teamed up again to clash against Adam Scott and Taylor Pendrith. Much like the rest of the US team on the second day, Theegala and Morikawa too showed a sub-par performance as they lost 5-4 to the International team in a match match that concluded on the 14th hole.

Sahith Theegala sat out of the weather stricken rounds 3 and 4 on Saturday. His partner Collin Morikawa was paired with Sam Burns and Scottie Scheffler for the foursome and fourball events respectively. He won both of the matches. After an equalizer round 2, US again managed to take a lead, 11-7.

Sahith Theegala will now be seen on the field on Sunday for the singles fixtures. He will go against Byeong Hun An. This will be final day in the Presidents Cup schedule and will determine the winners of the 2024 edition of event.