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20-Year-Old
Potgieter
Claims
First
PGA Tour
Victory
in
Marathon
Playoff
Dustin
Schoenherr
- Sports
Tell Us
USA News
Network
DETROIT
— South
African
rookie
Aldrich
Potgieter
drained
an
18-foot
birdie
putt on
the
fifth
playoff
hole
Sunday
to
capture
his
first
PGA Tour
title at
the
Rocket
Classic,
outlasting
Max
Greyserman
in the
season's
longest
playoff.
The
20-year-old
Potgieter,
the
tour's
youngest
player
and
longest
driver,
became
the
ninth
first-time
winner
this
season
after a
dramatic
conclusion
at
Detroit
Golf
Club
that saw
three
players
miss
multiple
opportunities
to close
out the
tournament.
"I
finally
got one
to the
hole,"
said
Potgieter,
who
celebrated
by
embracing
his
caddie
before
sharing
a warm
hug with
his
father,
Heinrich,
who had
traveled
from
South
Africa
to
witness
the
milestone
moment.
Historic
Achievement
for
Rising
Star
Potgieter's
victory
caps a
remarkable
journey
that
began
with his
family's
emigration
from
South
Africa
to
Australia
when he
was 8,
followed
by a
return
home at
17 when
COVID-19
restrictions
limited
competitive
opportunities.
"We had
to give
up a
lot,
moving
to
Australia,
moving
back,"
Potgieter
reflected.
"Emigrating
is
definitely
not the
easiest
thing.
Coming
alone at
the
start of
my
career
to the
States
and
having
my dad
here has
helped
so
much."
The
young
phenom's
resume
already
includes
winning
the
British
Amateur
at 17
and
becoming
the
youngest
Korn
Ferry
Tour
winner
last
year.
His PGA
Tour
card,
earned
through
the
developmental
circuit
just
after
his 20th
birthday,
makes
him the
second-youngest
player
to
achieve
that
feat —
trailing
only
Jason
Day, who
was 19
in 2007.
Playoff
Drama
Unfolds
The
marathon
playoff
began
after
Potgieter,
Greyserman,
and
Chris
Kirk
finished
regulation
tied at
22-under
par.
Potgieter
entered
the
final
round
with a
two-shot
lead but
shot
3-under
69,
while
both
Greyserman
and Kirk
posted
matching
67s to
force
the
extra
holes.
Kirk,
seeking
his
first
tour
victory
since
2015,
was
eliminated
on the
second
playoff
hole
after
missing
a
crucial
4-foot
putt —
his
second
missed
opportunity
after
pushing
a 9-foot
winner
past the
cup on
the
opening
extra
hole.
The
drama
continued
as
Potgieter
and
Greyserman
traded
missed
chances
across
multiple
holes.
At the
par-5
14th,
Greyserman
unleashed
his
longest
drive of
the week
at 361
yards,
just two
yards
behind
Potgieter's
blast.
Both
players
had
legitimate
birdie
chances
but
couldn't
convert.
Breakthrough
Moment
The
decisive
moment
came on
their
second
visit to
the
par-3
15th
hole.
After
Greyserman
two-putted
from 34
feet for
par,
Potgieter
stepped
up to
his
18-footer
and
calmly
rolled
it home
for the
victory.
"Just
wasn't
my
time,"
said
Greyserman,
whose
runner-up
finish
marked
his
fourth
second-place
showing
as he
continues
pursuing
his
first
PGA Tour
victory.
Notable
Performances
Michael
Thorbjornsen
(67) and
Jake
Knapp
(68)
finished
one shot
outside
the
playoff,
while
former
world
No. 1
Collin
Morikawa
continued
his
victory
drought
despite
a strong
showing.
The
two-time
major
champion
shot 68
to
finish
in a tie
for
eighth
at
19-under,
extending
his
winless
streak
since
the
October
2023
Zozo
Championship
in
Japan.
Ryder
Cup
captain
Keegan
Bradley,
fresh
off his
victory
at last
week's
Travelers
Championship
that
elevated
him to
No. 7 in
the
world
rankings,
closed
with a
67 but
finished
well
back in
a tie
for 41st
at
12-under.
Potgieter's
triumph,
powered
by his
tour-leading
driving
distance
of
326-plus
yards,
signals
the
arrival
of
another
international
talent
on the
PGA Tour
and
provides
inspiration
for
young
golfers
navigating
their
own
challenging
paths to
professional
success.
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