Rocket Classic: Aldrich Potgieter wins to claim first PGA Tour title after five-hole play-off | Golf News
Aldrich Potgieter won his first PGA Tour title at the Rocket Classic, dominating after a marathon in Detroit.
The 20-year-old South African made a brirdie 18-foot putt on the fifth dam hole to defeat Max Greserman at the Detroit Country Club.
“I finally got one in the hole,” said Potgieter, after missing opportunities on the green by three players led to the long -term playoffs of the tour.
Potgieter is the youngest player in the PGA Tour and his biggest striker, with an average of more than 326 yards off the tee. He became the ninth player to win for the first time this season.
Potgieter poses with the Rocket Classic trophy
Potgieter previously won the British amateur title at the age of 17 and became the youngest winner of Korn Ferry Tour last year, opening the way to become the second player to win a PGA Tour card thanks to the minor league just after his 20th birthday. The youngest was Jason Day, who was 19 years old in 2007.
Chris Kirk was eliminated after missing a four -foot putt on the second barrage hole – that after pushing a putt of nine feet after the cup on the first additional hole with a chance to win.
Gresermanman and Potgieter each had the opportunity to win and end it at the 72nd hole at the Detroit Golf Club, but could not convert to Birdie Opportunity to break equality at 22 under Kirk.
“This one will prick a little,” said Greserman. Potgieter, two rush strokes when entering the Tour, closed with a 69 under three, and Greserman and Kirk each fired 67.
Potgieter celebrates his winning putt
Matt Fitzpatrick I appreciated an encouraging return to form a little more than fifteen before the opening with a higher finish.
The Yorkshireman pulled 67 on the last day to make boxes of four rounds of less than 70 in a PGA Tour event for the first time since April of last year and even if it raised it to 19 sous, it was still three unless to embark on the play-off.
Matt Fitzpatrick begins to find a shape before opening
An eagle in the fourth helped him at a four -sous sub nine of the 32 of the 32, but after a bogey in the 12th, he could only sort the two holes in the section which prevented him from challenging the leaders.
However, the eighth link was the best point of articulation of Fitzpatrick in almost 13 months, after having finished in a similar place in the US PGA championship in May.
Collin MorikawaAs for him, is still waiting to end his drought. He pulled a 68 to also finish on 19 sous. The major double winner, who was the best classified player in the 5th row in the world, has not won the PGA Tour since October 2023 in the Zozo championship in Japan.
US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, who went to No. 7 in the world after winning the Travelers championship last week, finished equally for the 41st.
The PGA Tour continues with the John Deere Classic, look live Sky Sports GolfStarting with early coverage from 7 p.m. Thursday – or stream without contract.
Get the best prices and reserve a tour of one of the 1,700 lessons across the United Kingdom and Ireland
