SA's Aldrich Potgieter claims maiden PGA Tour title after marathon playoff
South Africa's Aldrich Potgieter won the Rocket Classic after finally sinking a birdie putt on the fifth playoff hole in Detroit on Sunday.
South Africa's Aldrich Potgieter on the cusp of PGA Tour win at Rocket Classic
The tall South African carded a seven under 65 around Detroit Golf Club on Saturday, enough to take to 19 under for the tournament, two shots ahead of the chasing pack. Americans Max Greyserman, Jake Knapp, Mark Hubbard, Andrew Putnam and Chris Kirk make up the chasers, while fellow South African Thriston Lawrence is on 16 under.
Potgieter went on a birdie binge on the front nine, rolling in six birdies. At the 372-yard, par-four eighth hole, he waited for the players to leave the green because he was going for it. The 20-year-old blasted the ball over towering trees and through the green before it finally rested in the rough 374 yards from the tee. He went on to make an 11-foot putt for his fifth straight birdie.
"That front nine really helped me to get through," Potgieter told the press afterwards.
"A lot of par saves on this back nine."
The Pretoria native calmed down on the back nine, making just one birdie on the par-four 13th as he went on to complete a flawless bogey-free round. Potgieter attributes his power with the driver to his multi-sport background.
"I played a lot of sports, rugby, wrestling," said the 180cm, 95kg Potgieter.
"Kind of did everything as a kid. Didn't just focus on golf, so that kind of helped me build that strong foundation."
Potgieter became the youngest Korn Ferry Tour winner last year January, paving the way for him to become the second-youngest player to earn a PGA Tour card through the minor league just after his 20th birthday. The youngest was Jason Day, who was 19 in 2007.
Now, he stands on the cusp of a maiden PGA Tour victory.
Three-way tie for Rocket Classic lead as SA's Potgieter stays in the hunt
South Africa's Aldrich Potgieter remains in the hunt for his maiden PGA Tour title at the Rocket Classic, although the tournament has a new trio of leaders at the halfway mark.
SA's Aldrich Potgieter grabs share of first-round lead at Rocket Classic
South African youngster Aldrich Potgieter broke the course record at Detroit Golf Club on Thursday to share the first-round lead with Kevin Roy at the PGA Tour's Rocket Classic.
'This changes the story': Keegan Bradley eyes Ryder Cup playing role after Travelers triumph
When Keegan Bradley was announced as the new Ryder Cup captain in July last year, the second question he faced was whether he would consider giving himself a pick for the matches at Bethpage in September 2025.