Potgieter wins playoff on 5th hole for Detroit title
The 20-year-old grabbed the victory in just his 20th PGA start, beating American Max Greyserman in the hour-long playoff drama after American Chris Kirk had been eliminated on the second extra hole.
The playoff had returned to the par-three 15th at Detroit golf Club for the second time in the playoff when Potgieter, who had missed winning putts on the two prior extra holes, sank the winning putt after Greyserman missed a 34-foot birdie putt.
"Finally got one to the hole and saw the ball roll end over end and just knew it was going to go in," Potgieter said.
"I'm just happy to walk away as a winner."
Greyserman and Kirk each shot 67 and 54-hole leader Potgieter fired a 69 to finish deadlocked after 72 holes on 22-under 266.
Potgieter made two bogeys in the first five holes but battled back with birdies on three of the last six holes and a clutch five-foot par putt at 18 to make the playoff.
"It was definitely a tough day," Potgieter said. "The start didn't go my way. I struggled to make putts, left a lot short."
All three birdied the first playoff hole, the par-four 18th, and at the first extra playing of the 15th, all three missed their birdie putts but Kirk missed his par effort from just inside four feet to drop out.
"Just really disappointed right now," six-time PGA winner Kirk said. "I'm really happy with how I played. Just mis-read that last putt."
Potgieter and Greyserman both parred the par-four 16th and birdied the par-five 14th to set up the close, which made Potgieter the youngest South African to win on the PGA Tour.
"Big thanks to my family and friends, coaches and everyone who has been involved to get me to this point," Potgieter said, noting his family's sacrifice for his career.
"We had to give up a lot, moving to Australia, moving back. Emigrating is definitely not the easiest thing. Coming alone at the start of my career to the States and giving it a grind — having my dad here has helped so much."
Greyserman, twice a PGA runner-up last year, will have to wait longer for a breakthrough triumph.
"Unfortunately I didn't get the job done," he said. "I thought I hit a lot of good shots down the stretch. Very pleased with how I handled myself down the stretch.
"Putts just didn't drop but I hit a lot of good putts. This one is going to sting for a little bit but I'll have to get back to work."
Potgieter's best prior PGA finish was a Mexico Open playoff loss to American Brian Campbell in February.
Americans Michael Thorbjornsen and Jake Knapp shared fourth on 267. — AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
a day ago
- Observer
Bosch leads South Africa to 328-run win over Zimbabwe
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe; South African captain Keshav Maharaj said his team's 328-win in the first Test against Zimbabwe on Tuesday showed the amount of talent there was in the South African cricket system. Fast bowler Corbin Bosch took five for 43 as South Africa wrapped up the win on the fourth afternoon at Queens Sports Club, bowling out Zimbabwe for 208 after setting them 537 to win. Playing in his second Test, Bosch became the fourth South African to score a century and take five wickets in an innings in a Test. Bosch was one of seven changes from the team that won the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's in London last month. "We've been a team that has just won something major and we had a lot of youngsters coming in," said Maharaj at the post-match presentation. "We know the talent there is in our system. It was just about getting them in the right frame of mind to execute and they showed that throughout the four days." Bosch was pipped for the player of the match award by Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who made 153 on debut and at 19 became South Africa's youngest player to hit a Test century. "He's a mature young man and to see the way he goes about his business in pressure situations is really encouraging," Maharaj said of the young left-hander. Pretorius praised the team environment. "It's a moment I will cherish," he said. "The message in the change room was, be yourself and back yourself." Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine admitted that the lack of a third seam bowler had hurt his team after fiery bowling from Blessing Muzarabani and Tanaka Chivanga had South Africa struggling at 55 for four on the first morning. With no seam back-up, Zimbabwe lost control and South Africa set up their win by recovering to score 418 for nine declared. "In hindsight another seamer would have done us a lot of favours on that surface, especially bowling first," said Ervine. "Going down to the spin (bowlers), we just weren't consistent enough." Ervine said the Queens club pitch had offered uncharacteristic help to the faster bowlers. "We didn't expect as much pace and movement," he said. Ervine said first innings century-maker Sean Williams was "exceptional, but it was disappointing there wasn't someone else to support him." Zimbabwe's fragile batting line-up suffered a blow when opening batsman Brian Bennett was ruled out of the match after suffering concussion with his score on 19 in the first innings. "He's still getting monitored but hopefully he will be fit for the second Test," said Ervine. The teams meet again at the same venue in the second Test starting on Sunday. — AFP
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
Potgieter wins playoff on 5th hole for Detroit title
WASHINGTON: South African Aldrich Potgieter sank a birdie putt from just inside 18 feet on the fifth playoff hole to win the Rocket Classic for his first US PGA Tour title. The 20-year-old grabbed the victory in just his 20th PGA start, beating American Max Greyserman in the hour-long playoff drama after American Chris Kirk had been eliminated on the second extra hole. The playoff had returned to the par-three 15th at Detroit golf Club for the second time in the playoff when Potgieter, who had missed winning putts on the two prior extra holes, sank the winning putt after Greyserman missed a 34-foot birdie putt. "Finally got one to the hole and saw the ball roll end over end and just knew it was going to go in," Potgieter said. "I'm just happy to walk away as a winner." Greyserman and Kirk each shot 67 and 54-hole leader Potgieter fired a 69 to finish deadlocked after 72 holes on 22-under 266. Potgieter made two bogeys in the first five holes but battled back with birdies on three of the last six holes and a clutch five-foot par putt at 18 to make the playoff. "It was definitely a tough day," Potgieter said. "The start didn't go my way. I struggled to make putts, left a lot short." All three birdied the first playoff hole, the par-four 18th, and at the first extra playing of the 15th, all three missed their birdie putts but Kirk missed his par effort from just inside four feet to drop out. "Just really disappointed right now," six-time PGA winner Kirk said. "I'm really happy with how I played. Just mis-read that last putt." Potgieter and Greyserman both parred the par-four 16th and birdied the par-five 14th to set up the close, which made Potgieter the youngest South African to win on the PGA Tour. "Big thanks to my family and friends, coaches and everyone who has been involved to get me to this point," Potgieter said, noting his family's sacrifice for his career. "We had to give up a lot, moving to Australia, moving back. Emigrating is definitely not the easiest thing. Coming alone at the start of my career to the States and giving it a grind — having my dad here has helped so much." Greyserman, twice a PGA runner-up last year, will have to wait longer for a breakthrough triumph. "Unfortunately I didn't get the job done," he said. "I thought I hit a lot of good shots down the stretch. Very pleased with how I handled myself down the stretch. "Putts just didn't drop but I hit a lot of good putts. This one is going to sting for a little bit but I'll have to get back to work." Potgieter's best prior PGA finish was a Mexico Open playoff loss to American Brian Campbell in February. Americans Michael Thorbjornsen and Jake Knapp shared fourth on 267. — AFP
Observer
4 days ago
- Observer
Pegula downs Swiatek to win Bad Homburg title
BAD HOMBURG, Germany: World number three Jessica Pegula beat Poland's Iga Swiatek in straight sets to win her third title of the season at Bad Homburg on Saturday, two days before Wimbledon starts. The 31-year-old won 6-4, 7-5 in one hour and 46 minutes in the northern suburbs of Frankfurt for her second title on grass, after Berlin last year. The US Open finalist now trails Swiatek 6-5 in their meetings, but has won four of her last six contests with the former world number one, who was appearing in her first final on grass. The American played solidly on serve, conceding only one break point in the first set, which she avoided with a clever serve-and-drop combination. Pegula then converted her third break point at three-games all to take a decisive lead and clinch the set. In the second set, Swiatek piled up unforced errors. Pegula took the Polish player's serve at 5-5 with a superb forehand crosscourt shot from the baseline. Top seed Pegula did not falter on her serve to hand Swiatek a fifth defeat in 27 finals on the tour. Jessica Pegula of the US celebrates with the trophy alongside Poland's Iga Swiatek. — Reuters Pegula added to her trophies in Austin (hard court) and Charleston (clay) this season. She now boasts nine career titles — five in the last 12 months. "This tournament shows there's hope for me on grass," joked Swiatek after wiping away a few tears of disappointment. The five-time Grand Slam winner was playing her first final on a grass court, two years after reaching the semi-finals in Bad Homburg, her best previous result on the surface. Swiatek was playing in her first final in a year since she lifted her fourth French Open trophy at Roland Garros in 2024, and looking for her 23rd career title. The former US Open champion will face Russian Polina Kudermetova, ranked 63, at Wimbledon. Pegula, whose best result at Wimbledon was a quarter-final appearance in 2023, will open her campaign on Tuesday against 122nd-ranked Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto. — AFP
