Aldrich Potgieter Eyes First PGA TOUR Title at Farmers Insurance Open

LA JOLLA, Calif. – Aldrich Potgieter, a 20-year-old South African golfer, is on the verge of making history at the Farmers Insurance Open. Potgieter, currently solo third at 7-under through three rounds, is just two shots behind 54-hole leader Harris English. He will play in his first final pairing on Saturday alongside English and Andrew Novak.

Potgieter, who turned pro at 18, has quickly risen through the ranks. He recently became the youngest winner on the Korn Ferry Tour, surpassing Jason Day‘s record. His victory at the Korn Ferry Tour came at 19 years, 4 months, and 11 days, making him the youngest winner on either the PGA TOUR or Korn Ferry Tour since Ralph Guldahl in 1931.

Potgieter’s journey to the top has been marked by a series of impressive achievements. He won The 2022 Amateur Championship just before his 18th birthday, becoming the second-youngest winner in the event’s history. His other notable victories include the 2021 Western Australia Amateur, 2022 South African Boys U19 Championship, 2023 African Amateur Championship, and 2023 Junior Invitational at Sage Valley.

Wesley Bryan, a fellow golfer, has been vocal about Potgieter’s potential. “George was hyping him up to be the greatest golfer he’s seen in his entire life,” Bryan said. “He’s got LeBron (James)-esque upside.”

Potgieter’s game is characterized by his exceptional driving distance. He led the Korn Ferry Tour in Driving Distance in 2024 and is currently leading the PGA TOUR with an average of 338.5 yards per drive. His performance at Torrey Pines has been particularly noteworthy, averaging over 320 yards per drive and leading the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee.

Despite his young age, Potgieter has shown remarkable maturity and decision-making. After winning The Amateur Championship, he chose to turn pro rather than play collegiately in the U.S. “I thought, from my view, college was like an extra four years of preparing to becoming professional,” Potgieter explained. “I wanted to get the experience done and just make sure my game is good enough.”

Potgieter’s journey has also been shaped by his international upbringing. Born in Middelburg, South Africa, he moved to Perth, Australia, at the age of eight before returning to South Africa in 2021. His connection with fellow South African Tim Clark has been instrumental in his development. Clark, who captained Potgieter at the 2022 Junior Presidents Cup, has remained a mentor and sounding board for the young golfer.

As Potgieter prepares for the final round at Torrey Pines, the golfing world watches with bated breath. His blend of talent, maturity, and determination positions him as one of the most promising young golfers on the PGA TOUR.