Long awaited hard work and childhood dreams, all came full circle Sunday evening at the Rocket Classic. With a highly competitive tournament coming down to playoff holes, 20-year-old Aldrich Potgieter clutched his first ever PGA Tour victory. Being the youngest player on the Tour is an accomplishment itself, now Potgieter is able to claim victory as the youngest as well. Getting over that first winning hump is now in the past, and the young golfer is eager to experience that feeling many more times to come. Now joining the club as the ninth player this season, to get that first win under their belts.
Young But Qualified
The South African may be the youngest in the Tour as it currently stands, yet he has shown he can hang with the big dogs. Just becoming pro in 2023 Potgieter has become the seventh youngest Tour winner since 1983. His performance in the final round only put on display why, knocking off Max Greyserman on the fifth playoff hole. Putting the icing on the cake at the par-3 15th hole, going for birdie from 18 feet.
“It was definitely a tough day,” Potgieter said. “The start didn’t go my way; I struggled to make putts, left a lot short. Finally got one to the hole, and I just saw the ball roll end over end and I knew it was going to go in.”
Starting the round with two bogeys in the first five holes, things appeared to be shaky for Potgieter by all means. Yet the young energy was just enough to battle his way back, putting together five birdies to end the round. It eventually came down to three headed to a playoff battle with Potgieter, including Chris Kirk and Greyserman. Kirk had nine feet for the win on the first playoff hole, No. 18, and missed. He was ultimately sent home with a bogey one hole later, on No. 15, where Greyserman couldn’t convert a winner from 11 feet. Moments later at the par-4 16th, the third of overtime, both Potgieter and Greyserman missed 15-footers.
Dreams Come True
The big payout of $1.728 million fell in the hands of the Potgieter, after standing tall in the limelight of playoff holes. With Greyserman missing a 35-footer at the 15th, it opened up the door for the rookie to cross a Tour win off his list. His success has come in spurts with a notable statistic leading the Tour, in average driving distance ahead of Rory McIlroy.
“I was definitely playing a bit different than yesterday, that front nine is really difficult,” Potgieter said. “I think I did a good job at coming in and not expecting too much.”
With his expectation not as high, the end result speaks a different reality for Potgieter and company. Able to now join the winners circle within the Tour golfers, the very skilled rookie will be expecting many more moments like such in his career within the sport.
Main Photo Credit: © Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
