Tiger Woods Announces Sahith Theegala as recipient of the 2026 Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption
Tournament host Tiger Woods has announced Sahith Theegala as the recipient of the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption into the 2026 Genesis Invitational. Theegala will join the field at The Riviera Country Club, February 19-22.
Awarded annually since 2009, the Sifford Exemption has been given to a deserving golfer from a minority background to play in The Genesis Invitational. The exemption continues Sifford’s legacy by recognizing players whose journeys reflect the power of opportunity, perseverance and progress in the game of golf.
Perseverance helped propel Sifford to opportunities on the golf course, and his belief in earning opportunity through performance remains central to the exemption that bears his name. Like Sifford, Theegala has let his golf clubs make the statement, first as a decorated junior and collegiate golfer, and now as one of the game’s top rising professionals.
“During Charlie’s playing days, all he wanted was an opportunity to compete with the best players in the world so he could showcase his game, and Sahith shares those same characteristics,” Woods said. “I am proud to welcome Sahith to the field for The Genesis Invitational, a tournament that shares a lot of meaning for us both.”
Born in Fullerton, California to parents who immigrated to the United States from India, Theegala was raised in Chino Hills, California. His path into the game mirrors many of the values central to Sifford’s legacy. Theegala was introduced to golf by his father when he was young and learned the game primarily on public golf courses. He would become an accomplished junior golfer and one of the nation’s top amateurs while at Pepperdine.
“Receiving this special invitation from Tiger is an honor,” Theegala said. “The Genesis Invitational has played an important role in my journey to the PGA TOUR, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to compete in Charlie’s memory.”
Theegala made his PGA TOUR debut as a Pepperdine University sophomore at The Riviera Country Club in 2017, having earned an exemption into The Genesis Invitational field by virtue of his Collegiate Showcase victory. Theegala turned that exemption into a T49 finish as an amateur, making the cut in his first start on the PGA TOUR. His first professional start on the PGA TOUR came three years later in Connecticut at the Travelers Championship – the tournament Sifford won for his first victory.
As Sifford believed, opportunity is only meaningful when met with performance, and Theegala has done exactly that on the PGA TOUR. In just over five years, he has one career win, has made 100 cuts, finished in the top 10 of a tournament 24 times, and he and his family have become fan favorites. To begin the 2026 season, Theegala has made the cut in all four of his starts, finishing in the top-10 twice. The start at Riviera will be his sixth time competing in The Genesis Invitational, a tournament where he has previously made all five cuts and has finished in the top 15 three times. His best finish in The Genesis Invitational came in 2023 when he finished T6.
The full list of previous Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption recipients includes Vincent Johnson (2009), Joshua Wooding (2010), Joseph Bramlett (2011 & 2020), Andy Walker (2012), Jeremiah Wooding (2013), Harold Varner III (2014), Carlos Sainz, Jr. (2015), J.J. Spaun (2016), Kevin M. Hall (2017), Cameron Champ (2018), Tim O’Neal (2019), Willie Mack III (2021), Aaron Beverly (2022), Marcus Byrd (2023), Chase Johnson (2024) and Danny List (2025).
The Genesis Invitational will be held February 19-22 at The Riviera Country Club and broadcast on GOLF Channel and CBS. Tickets to the tournament are currently available.