Aldrich Potgieter Takes Command at Rocket Classic
Aldrich Potgieter, at just 20 years old, has made headlines as the youngest player on the PGA Tour and showcased his power with five consecutive birdies, propelling him to a commanding lead in the Rocket Classic. He finished Saturday's third round with an impressive 7-under 65, giving him a two-stroke advantage.
Potgieter's week began with an average drive of 326.6 yards, outpacing even Rory McIlroy. As he heads into Sunday, he is poised to capture his first tour victory.
Trailing Potgieter are Max Greyserman (66), Jake Knapp (66), Mark Hubbard (67), Andrew Putnam (67), and Chris Kirk (69), all sitting two shots back. Three additional players are just one stroke behind.
Collin Morikawa, ranked fifth in the world, shot a 68 and will start the final round four shots off the lead. Morikawa, a two-time major champion, is seeking his first win since October 2023 at the Zozo Championship in Japan, having previously lost in a playoff to Rickie Fowler in Detroit two years ago.
Born in South Africa and moving to Australia at age eight, Potgieter returned to his homeland at 17 due to pandemic-related competition restrictions. His white golf shoes proudly display the South African flag on their heels, a tribute to his roots.
His accolades include winning the British Amateur at 17 and becoming the youngest Korn Ferry Tour winner last year. This success led him to earn a PGA Tour card shortly after turning 20, making him the second-youngest player to achieve this milestone, following Jason Day.
Earlier this year, Potgieter was close to victory at the Mexico Open but lost in a playoff when Brian Campbell benefited from a fortunate bounce off a tree. After struggling with four missed cuts and only one top finish in his last eight events, he rebounded with a tie for sixth at the Charles Schwab Challenge last month.
While the Detroit Golf Club is known for being one of the easier courses on tour, maintaining his lead will be no small feat for Potgieter, currently ranked 123rd in the world.
His powerful drives give him an edge, but he also demonstrated finesse during his birdie streak on the front nine. He began with a remarkable 35-foot birdie from a bunker and faced a challenging approach on the par-5 seventh hole, where he managed to set up an eight-foot birdie putt after navigating through rough terrain.
On the par-4 eighth hole, Potgieter waited for competitors Kevin Roy and Michael Thorbjornsen to clear the green before unleashing his driver. He sent the ball soaring over tall trees, landing in the rough 374 yards from the tee and subsequently sinking an 11-foot putt for his fifth straight birdie, concluding the front nine with a remarkable score of 30.
However, he cooled off on the back nine, managing only one birdie at No. 13 and narrowly missing another at No. 14 before finishing with five consecutive pars.
