Aldrich Potgieter wins Rocket
Classic on 5th playoff hole, outlasting Max Greyserman and Chris Kirk
[June 30, 2025]
By LARRY LAGE
DETROIT (AP) — Aldrich Potgieter ended the protracted Rocket
Classic, making an 18-foot birdie putt on the fifth playoff hole to
outlast Max Greyserman for his first PGA Tour title on Sunday.
“I finally got one to the hole,” Potgieter said after missed
opportunities on the green by three players led to the longest
playoff of the season on the tour.
He celebrated by embracing his caddie and shaking hands with
Greyserman and his caddie before giving his father, Heinrich, a hug.
The 20-year-old Potgieter is the youngest player on the tour and its
biggest hitter, averaging 326-plus yards off the tee. He became the
ninth player to win for the first time this season.
Potgieter was born in South Africa, moved to Australia when he was 8
and returned to South Africa at age 17 because the COVID-19 pandemic
limited his opportunities to compete.
“We had to give up a lot, moving to Australia, moving back,” he
said. “Emigrating is definitely not the easiest thing. Coming alone
at the start of my career to the States and giving it a grind, and
having my dad here has helped so much.”
Potgieter won the British Amateur at the age of 17 and became the
youngest Korn Ferry Tour winner last year, paving the way for him to
become the second-youngest player to earn a PGA Tour card through
the minor league just after his 20th birthday. The youngest was
Jason Day, who was 19 in 2007.
Chris Kirk was eliminated after missing a 4-foot putt on the second
playoff hole — that after pushing a 9-foot putt past the cup on the
first extra hole with a chance to win.
Greyserman and Potgieter each had opportunities to win end it on the
72nd hole at Detroit Golf Club, but couldn't convert on birdie
opportunities to break a tie at 22 under with Kirk.
“This one’s going to sting for a little bit,” Greyserman said.
Potgieter, two strokes ahead entering the round, closed with a
3-under 69, and Greyserman and Kirk each shot 67.
Greyserman missed a 12-foot putt and Potgieter came up short on an
uphill, 42-foot putt. That set up Kirk with an opportunity to win
it, but he couldn't take advantage. After Greyserman two-putted from
39 feet for par and Potgieter did the same from 20 feet, Kirk had a
chance to win it with a 9-foot putt only to push it to the right of
the cup to extend the playoff.
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Aldrich Potgieter, of South Africa poses with the trophy after
winning a playoff during the final round of the Rocket Classic golf
tournament at the Detroit Golf Club, Sunday, June 29, 2025, in
Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The trio then went to the par-3, 158-yard 15th and
Greyserman was the only one who was accurate off the tee and didn't
take advantage.
The trend continued on the par-4 16th, where both Greyserman and
Potgieter missed 16-foot putts with a chance to win.
At the par-5 14th, Greyserman hit is drive 361 yards — his longest
of the week — and was just 2 yards behind Potgieter's blast.
Potgieter hit his approach from 195 yards to 19 feet and he pulled
his putt. Greyserman two-putted from from 29 feet for birdie.
Back at No. 15 for a second time in the playoff, Greyserman
two-putted from 34 feet and then Potgieter finally ended it.
“Just wasn’t my time,” said Greyserman, who finished second for the
fourth time after coming up short for his first PGA Tour victory.
Michael Thorbjornsen (67) and Jake Knapp (68) finished a stroke out
of the playoff.
Collin Morikawa, meanwhile, is still waiting to end his drought.
He shot a 68 to finish 19 under and in an eighth-place tie. The
two-time major winner, who was the highest-ranked player in the
field at No. 5 in the world, has not won the PGA Tour since October
2023 at the Zozo Championship in Japan.
Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, who rose to No. 7 in the world
after winning the Travelers Championship last week, closed with 67
to tie for 41st at 12 under.
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