Detroit – Aldrich Poggilator standing on the practice green at the Detroit Golf Club said that the most challenging part of his life was moving to Australia when he was eight years old and returning to South Africa at the age of 17.
Potgieter is about to face another test.
The youngest and biggest hitters on the PGA Tour enter the final round of the Rocket Classic with a two-shot lead, holding back a puck of players, including Colin Morakawa, for their first victory on the circuit.
“The leaderboards are so stacked,” the Podgirator said after scoring five straight birdies at a 7-under 65 on Saturday to surge to the lead.
The 20-year-old tour rookie started the week averaged 326.6 yards away from the tee – a few yards longer than Rory McIlroy – praises his multi-sport childhood.
“I’ve done a lot of sports, rugby and wrestling,” said the 5-foot-11, 211-pound podgilator. “I did it all as a child. I didn’t focus solely on golf, but it helped me build such a strong foundation.”
Max Greyserman (66), Jake Knapp (66), Mark Hubbard (67), Andrew Putnam (67) and Chris Kirk (69) were two shots. Three more players had different strokes.
“As long as you wander around on Sunday, that’s what matters,” Glazerman said.
Morikawa Kawakawa, the top player in the world, ranked fifth in the field, shot 68 to start his final round four shots. Two years ago in Detroit, he lasted long by Ricky Fowler in the playoffs. Two-time major champion Morikawa has not won the tour in Japan’s Zozo Championship since October 2023.
“Look, I know what’s in danger,” Morikawa said. “I want to find a way to get it done.”
Nodding to his home country, Podgiator’s white golf shoes hold the South African flag outside his heels.
He won the British amateur at the age of 17, becoming the youngest Corn Ferry Tour winner last year, paving the way for him to become the second youngest player to win a PGA Tour card through the minor leagues shortly after his 20th birthday. The youngest was Jason Day, who was 19 years old in 2007.
Potgieter was in a position to win earlier this year.
He lost the playoffs at the Mexico Open in February. When Brian Campbell took a big break when he shot the second extra hole, he fell off the tree and returned to play. He missed the next four cuts and 7 out of eight before finishing sixth in the Charles Schwab Challenge last month at the start of the PGA Tour.
The Detroit Golf Club is one of the easiest courses on the PGA Tour, but it would be difficult for the world’s 123rd player to hold back competition.
Potgieter’s driver certainly gives him a shot, but he also flashed some of his finesse in a birdie streak at the front nine in the third round.
He opened on a birdie with a 35-foot shot from the bunker. His approach with the par-5 seed was buried at rough, pin, 78 feet on the right side of the cup. He went past the hole and lofted the ball, which rolled towards it, setting up an 8-foot birdie putt.
On a 372-yard par-4-eight hole, he was waiting for Kevin Roy and Michael Solbyonsen to leave the green.
Potgieter pulled out the driver, sent the ball over the towering tree, then passed through the greenery before finally resting on a rough 374 yards from the tee. He made an 11-foot putt for his fifth straight birdie and 6th pm, helping to shoot a 30 on the front nine with a two-shot lead.
He cooled down on the back nine with a birdie on the 13th, then ripped out on the 7-foot putt on the 14th, missing a chance to birdie a par 5 and closed the 5 par straight.
“That front nine really helped me get through,” Podgiator said. “Many pars will save this back nine.”