Sunday was worth waiting for Aldrich Potgieter. Although, technicallyAt the age of only 20, you can argue that he didn’t have to wait long.
South Africa came out of a play off with three men to win the Rocket Classic at the Detroit Golf Club on Sunday, descending Max Grayserman in the fifth hole of the Play off. Chris Kirk was eliminated in the second. Potgieter’s winning moment came to the PAR-3 15 hole, when he rolled into a bird blow from 18 meters.
Not bad for the 20th start of the PGA Tour’s novice career.
In 20 years, 9 months and 16 days old, Potgieter becomes the seventh youngest winner of the PGA Tour since the beginning of 1983. He also joins an exclusive list of players of international origin who won in tours before turning 21 years old. Also on that list? Seve ballsterosRory Mcilroy, Joaquin Niemann and Tom Kim. Last year he became the youngest winner of Korn Ferry Tour in the history of the league, and he almost won at PGA Tour earlier this season, but lost Mexico Open in a play off to Brian Campbell again in February.
“It was definitely a difficult day,” Potgieter said. “The beginning did not go my way; I tried to hit, I left a lot. I finally got one in the hole, and I just saw the ball ended in the end and I knew it was going to enter.”
Greyserman was without a win, but he had three racing conclusions as a 29-year-old PGA Tour novice last season. Sunday was his first competitor of 2025.
“I have done a lot of good things,” Greyserman said. “I started the second day back. Of course I wish I could have some shots back or a few strokes, but I hit a good couple at the end at a very good speed and sometimes the strokes don’t come in.”
;)
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Basic alan
Trio Greyserman/Potgieter/Kirk completed 72 holes tied on 22 under, and all three were first in the first Play off hole, par-4 18 (Kirk lost a 9-party to win). In Par-3 15, Kirk with three strokes and eliminated, Potgieter rose up and down to save par and Grayserman lost an 11-foot for victory.
On 16, a par-4, both players lost 16-foot for Birdie, and both with two putted for Birdie at Par-5 14. Finally, in Par-3 15, after Greyserman lost from 35 meters, Potgieter Drenoi.
Potgieter entered the day with a two -stroke lead over a group of five on 17 under (including Grayserman and Kirk), but it turned into a shootout on Sunday.
Potgieter played nine in front in one sub, which allowed Kirk to throw it with one side. The birds at 13 and 14 gave potgieter the lead again, but he lost the green in Par-3 15, hit a poor chip and did Bogey. This made him a three-way tie on 21 under with potgieter, Kirk (playing 17) and Michael Thorbjornsen (playing 18). Grayserman and Jake KNAPP, both in 20 under, were still addicted as well.
Thorbjornsen Parred 18 to get the club’s superiority on 21 under, but Kirk Zogu 17 and preceded 18 to place the mark on 22 under. Meanwhile, Greyserman, playing in the latest Potgieter pairing, finally made his first ninth back Birdie, rolling at a 35-foot at 16 to join Thorbjornen and Potgieter at 21 Under.
On 17, KNAPP barely lost a Putt Eagle and it was decided that a bird would become the fourth player on 21 under, but he could not roll in a 12 pedestrian to connect the lead to 18.
Down with the two contenders who followed Kirkin, Grayserman and Potgieter of the two 17th birds to reach 22 under and tie it, but potgieter with two blows to see from 42 meters to 18 while Greyserman lost a 12-meter-fired attempt to win.
This meant that a play off was developing its five holes.
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