The Rocket Classic provided an exciting finish that never wanted to end on Sunday. Ultimately, Aldrich Potgieter outlasted both Chris Kirk and Max Greyserman in a playoff to earn his first PGA Tour victory.
Kirk actually had a nine-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to win, but missed. He was eliminated the next playoff hole. That left just Potgieter and Greyserman to battle it out, with both in search of their maiden PGA Tour win.
It took five holes, but Potgieter finally drained a birdie putt to clinch the win. In doing so, he joined some truly exclusive company.
At 20 years old, Potgieter is the third youngest winner of a PGA Tour playoff in the last 50 years, per The Athletic’s Justin Ray. The only younger players are Jordan Spieth (19) and Tiger Woods (20).
Rocket Classic Playoff Goes On and On
Midway through Sunday’s final round of the Rocket Classic from Detroit, there were more than 20 golfers within three shots of the lead.
Collin Morikawa, who talked about Potgieter’s game after his third round, made a run early on Sunday. But he, along with most of the field, failed to close.
That set the stage for Kirk, Greyserman, and Potgieter to square off.
Following Kirk’s missed chance on the first playoff hole (18), he was eliminated after missing a short par putt on the second playoff hole.
The next couple of holes, Potgieter had birdie and eagle putts to win the tournament. Yet, he kept missing either just above or below the hole. That left the fans at the course a little frustrated.
In an interesting twist of irony, the tournament ended on the hole that was not kind to the South African: the par-3 15th.
Potgieter bogeyed the hole during regulation, and nearly did the same in the second playoff hole.
But this time, he left no doubt.
The 20-year-old drained the lengthy birdie putt for the win. He was then accompanied by his father, who was there to see his son win for the first time on Tour.
Potgieter, who is literally the longest hitter on Tour, averaging more than 326 yards per drive, finally put the rest of his game together this week. That culminated in the first win of his PGA Tour career.
But knowing his ability, it is highly unlikely to be his last.
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