You’d think handling the pressure of a final round on the PGA Tour would prepare you for anything life throws your way. Turns out, there are some challenges that make a Sunday back-nine look like a walk in the park. For professional athletes who thrive under the spotlight, stepping into unfamiliar territory—where they can’t rely on years of training and muscle memory—can be downright terrifying. Sometimes, the most nerve-wracking moments happen far away from the competition.

Sahith Theegala just proved that point at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship pre-tournament press conference. The 27-year-old PGA Tour pro recently proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Julianna “Juju” Chan, in Kauai, Hawaii. And he didn’t hold back about the stress that came with it.

“Man, I’m glad it’s over,” Theegala confessed with visible relief.

The admission caught everyone off guard. Here’s a guy who can handle tournament pressure with a smile. Yet planning a surprise proposal nearly broke him.

“I was just super excited. I’m not a planner. She literally plans everything in our relationship, where we eat, flights, booking stuff. Literally does everything outside of golf in our relationship. So for me to plan this was a lot of work and a lot of stress.”

The role reversal was real. Juju handles all the logistics in their eight-year relationship. So when Theegala decided to orchestrate this surprise, he stepped completely out of his comfort zone. The planning became a month-long secret operation. Thankfully, Juju’s sister and father became his accomplices. But keeping a secret from someone who knows you inside out? That’s the real challenge.

The couple’s schedule made things even trickier. Theegala played in Japan at the Zozo Championship. Then he had to get Juju to Hawaii without raising suspicion. His strategy was clever—he pitched the Hawaii stop as convenient geography between tournaments. She bought it. But Theegala added another layer of mystery. He didn’t tell her which Hawaiian island they were visiting until they connected through Honolulu.

“I made sure to not receive the emails when we booked our flights, and when we tagged our bags in Japan, I was like we’re going to Hawaii but I’m not going to tell you what island.”

The entire Japan leg became an anxiety marathon. Theegala traveled with the engagement ring every single day. The paranoia was constant. The actual proposal setting only amplified his fears. He chose a dramatic clifftop overlooking the ocean in Kauai.

“I’m glad I didn’t drop the ring in the ocean. I proposed on like a cliff side. All I could think about was, oh, my God, going to drop this ring in the ocean and never find it again.”

The event itself went off perfectly. Both families attended—except Theegala’s parents, who were in India and joined via FaceTime. The clifftop moment was captured in stunning photographs that later flooded Instagram.

Juju posted the images with a simple caption: “love of my life!!! 💍!!!”

The golf community immediately celebrated the moment. Min Woo Lee congratulated them. Amanda Balionis shared her excitement. Nelly Korda liked the announcement. The posts received thousands of reactions from fans and fellow athletes.

Despite struggling with form and injuries throughout 2025, Theegala remains a beloved figure in the world of professional golf. His world ranking dropped from 11th to 67th after an oblique injury during a TGL match. He posted zero top-10 finishes in 18 starts.

But this moment transcended golf. The couple met at Pepperdine University in 2017, where he played golf and she swam competitively. They’ve been together for eight years.

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Golf’s recent wave of romantic celebrations

Theegala’s engagement adds to a growing trend in professional golf. Players are increasingly sharing their personal milestones publicly. Nelly Korda announced her own engagement in late 2024. Other PGA Tour and LPGA players have followed similar patterns—choosing scenic locations and sharing the moments with millions of followers.

These announcements humanize professional athletes. Fans connect with players’ personal journeys beyond competition. For Theegala, the public celebration marked a bright spot in an otherwise challenging season.

“Honestly, it went well,” Theegala reflected. “I don’t know if she for sure knew or not. I think she had an idea but she acted like she didn’t, so I appreciate that a lot as well.”

The relief in his voice was unmistakable. But he did it. The ring stayed safe. The secret held. And Juju said yes.