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STAR
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Aldrich Potgieter is already making his mark on the game with his record-breaking wins and incredible talent
By Michael Vlismas
It’s at the water’s edge, preferably with a fishing rod in hand and at a golf course water hazard that is rich in bass, that Aldrich Potgieter and his father Hein often try to take a breather from the rollercoaster of life on Tour.
‘We always travel with rods. Fortunately, most of the courses have good bass in the dams. It’s just a nice way to try to get your head away from golf a bit. Although I’m still always thinking about golf,’ says Potgieter.
Such has been the incredible rise of the 20-year-old from becoming the youngest winner in Korn Ferry Tour history at the 2024 Bahamas Great Abaco Classic to the youngest South African winner of a PGA Tour event at the 2025 Rocket Classic that it’s been hard for the him to catch his breath.
‘It’s been incredibly busy. I have a bit of time off now and I think then it will finally sink in what it means to be a PGA Tour winner. It still doesn’t feel real.
‘Most people don’t realise that it’s just weeks and weeks of grinding out there’ – Hein Potgieter
QUICK Q&A
How do you feel about all the focus on your prodigious length off the tee?
It doesn’t bother me too much. Most people are buying drivers more than they’re buying putters, so I think it’s good. I also think it’s one of the biggest strengths you can have in the game at the moment.
What is one of the biggest adjustments you’ve had to make in your game?
Probably playing with a caddie. I’m so used to my amateur days of carrying my own bag and just getting on with it that it’s been an adjustment to have a caddie with me. I usually prefer a caddie to tell me the wind and give me the number, and then I’ll do the rest. But I’ve seen how important it is to have the right caddie with you, because you also spend so much time together.
Any chance you’ll play in South Africa this summer?
Yes. The plan is to play the Nedbank Golf Challenge and then hopefully the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Potgieter shot a record-tying 61 at the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld in February, and then set a new course-record 62 at the Rocket Classic at Detroit GC in June.
- A rookie this year, he leads the PGA Tour in driving distance by a comfortable margin – his average of just over 326 yards per drive is six yards ahead of No 2 Rory McIlroy.
WHAT’S IN THE BAG
Driver: Titleist GT2 9.0
3-Wood: PING G440 Max 15.0
Irons: Titleist 2025 T250 2-iron, 2025 T150 4-5-iron, 2025 T100 6-9 iron
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM10 (46.10F, 50.12F, 54.10S), Vokey WedgeWorks 60K*
Putter: Scotty Cameron 009M Tour Prototype
Ball: Titleist 2023 Pro V1x+
‘I think it’s because you’re just so in the zone at a tournament. I didn’t sleep well before the final round of the Rocket Classic, then had a full round followed by five playoff holes. I was kind of just happy to get it done. But now I think I’ll have a bit of time to savour it.’
Potgieter’s story is by now well known. A young boy from Mossel Bay who, when he was three years old, his grandmother had a dream of him playing golf in front of a crowd. The next day, she advised his parents to buy him his first set of clubs, and his journey began.
The family moved to Australia and Potgieter continued to excel and win amateur events, but when Covid hit and Australia entered a particularly hard lockdown, they decided to return to South Africa for the greater golf opportunities it offered.
‘He’ll kill me for saying this, but it was Greg Hearmon, who has caddied for great players like Retief Goosen, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen, who advised us to return to South Africa. His nickname on Tour is ‘Helpful’, and he gave us very good advice. He was quite clear that the best opportunities for a young pro are on the Sunshine Tour,’ says Potgieter.
‘You really have to know how to take care of yourself and not burn out’
FOR THE RECORD
See how Potgieter fired a 10-under 61 to tie the course record at the Mexico Open.
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CAREER TIMELINE
2022 Matriculated from high school.
June 2022 Won the Amateur Championship at the age of 17.
April 2023 Played at The Masters as an amateur.
February 2023 Won GolfRSA’s African Amateur Championship at Leopard Creek.
June 2023 Made the cut at the US Open as an amateur. Turned professional, made his debut at the Compliance Solutions Championship.
December 2023 Earned medallist honours at Second Stage of the PGA Tour Q-School to secure his Korn Ferry Tour card.
January 2024 Won The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at 19 years, 133 days to become the youngest player to win in Korn Ferry Tour history.
February 2025 Held the 54-hole lead at the PGA Tour’s Mexico Open, but was beaten by Brian Campbell on the second playoff hole.
June 2025 Held a two-stroke lead after 54 holes at the Rocket Classic. Defeated Max Greyersman on the fifth playoff hole to claim his first PGA Tour victory and become the youngest South African to win on the PGA Tour.
Gallery below
Upon moving back to South Africa, he joined Louis Oosthuizen’s Louis57 Academy and became the country’s latest winner of The Amateur Championship before turning professional.
These highlights do not begin to tell the real story of the hard work and sacrifice Potgieter and his family have undertaken to get to this point in his career.
‘Aldrich’s most difficult time was just when he turned pro. You know, most people don’t realise that it’s just weeks and weeks of grinding out there,’ says his father, Hein.
‘He played so many Monday Qualifiers for the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour to try to get into tournaments. It’s extremely hard when you don’t have status on those Tours, and the standard is so high. Aldrich was an average of five under par for his Monday Qualifiers and made it into two events.’
‘In the beginning, I was frustrated because I’d play with these veterans on the Korn Ferry Tour and think their games aren’t much better than mine, but they’ve just been out there longer and are so solid. They spit out results from week to week. Then that difference becomes even tighter at PGA Tour level,’ adds Potgieter.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES
Check out Potgieter’s moments from the 2023 PGA Tour Q-School presented by Korn Ferry in his quest to earn his PGA Tour card.
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It has indeed been a steep learning curve for the young superstar.
‘You’re new out here and it’s tough in the first year. You need to learn how to travel. There’s more pressure than ever to keep your card. Most pros play a maximum of four weeks and then you have to take a break.
‘At one stage on the Korn Ferry Tour I was playing seven weeks in a row. You really have to know how to take care of yourself and not burn out. But fortunately the win has taken that pressure off me.’
IN THE WINNING SEAT
Watch the highlights from the 20-year-old’s debut PGA Tour win at the Rocket Classic.
TYRONE WINFIELD/CARL FOURIE/SHAUN ROY/SUNSHINE TOUR/ERIK S LESSER/MIKE EGERTON/ANDREW MILLIGAN/JONO SEARLE/EPA/PA IMAGES/BACKPAGEPIX/GETTY IMAGES VIA THE R&A/PGA TOUR/FACEBOOK
