Why did Sahith Theegala self-report a two-stroke penalty at the 2024 Tour Championship? Rules explored

Sahith Theegala alerted PGA Tour officials during the third round of the 2024 Tour Championship after hitting a club into the sand during his backswing. After hitting his second shot on the par-4 third hole, Theegala's tee ball landed in a bunker. While trying to get the ball out of the bunker, he realized that his club had touched the sand during the backswing, which is a violation of Rule 12.2b.

This rule addresses the "restrictions on touching sand in a bunker" and states that players will receive a penalty if they deliberately touch the sand with a "hand, club, rake, or other object."

Here is an excerpt from Rule 12.2b:

"When Touching Sand Results in Penalty. Before making a stroke at a ball in a bunker, a player must not: Deliberately touch sand in the bunker with a hand, club, rake or other object to test the condition of the sand to learn information for the next stroke."

"Touch sand in the bunker with a club: In the area right in front of or right behind the ball (except as allowed under Rule 7.1a in fairly searching for a ball or under Rule 12.2a in removing a loose impediment or movable obstruction), In making a practice swing, or In making the backswing for a stroke," the rule further says.

Sahith Theegala admitted to touching the sand with his club during his backswing and alerted the officials. This resulted in a two-stroke penalty, causing his score on the leaderboard to drop from 13-under to 11-under at that time. However, he later improved his play, shooting a 5-under 66 for the round and settling in third place on the leaderboard.

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Sahith Theegala on self-reporting penalty: "I wouldn't be able to sleep"

During the press conference at the Tour Championship on Saturday, a reporter asked Sahith Theegala if he would have slept badly if he hadn’t called the officials about the incident. The American golfer admitted that he wouldn’t have been able to sleep if he hadn’t reported the incident. He said (via ASAP Sports):

"Oh, I wouldn't be able to sleep. I was describing the situation -- no matter what the outcome was, I needed to know what the actual rule was. Even though me and Xander thought it's just whatever, it's fine, you touched a grain of sand, didn't mean to move it, you're good.

"I decided to call the rules official right away on that green. But either way, I would have asked the rules officials after the round, too, or somehow found out what the rule was, and if I didn't ask a rules official and I went back home and looked up the rule -- it was sitting in my mind," he added.

Sahith Theegala has been performing impressively at the 2024 Tour Championship. He started his campaign with a round of 67 and followed with a 66. He carded another 66 on Saturday, moving up one position on the leaderboard to take third place.

Scottie Scheffler also shot a 66 on Saturday and leads the leaderboard at 26-under. Heading into the final round, the 26-year-old has a five-stroke lead over Collin Morikawa. Meanwhile, Sahith Theegala will start his round on Sunday, nine strokes behind the Olympic champion.