The PGA Tour is in Detroit this week for the Rocket Classic (formerly Rocket Mortgage Classic). While several top-ranked players decided to either skip this event, or withdraw in droves, there were still some amazing golfers in the field.
One such player is World No. 5, Collin Morikawa, who has had a rough go with media lately.
Morikawa found himself in contention heading into the weekend at the Detroit Golf Club after signing for an 8-under 64 on Friday.
Unfortunately for the 2-time major champion, he was unable to keep that momentum into his third round. Morikawa carded a 4-under 78, which on most courses, is really solid. But with the course record being set not once, but twice, this week, he fell a few shots behind South African Aldrich Potgieter.
Potgieter, not Rory McIlroy, is the longest driver of the golf ball on the PGA Tour.
Following his round on Saturday, Morikawa was asked his thoughts on Potgieter’s ability to drive the ball.
“I’ve never seen it in person, I just see the numbers that he produces,” Morikawa said. “He hits it very, very far.”
He averages 326.6 yards per drive, six yards farther than McIlroy. Yet, the youngster is still in search of his first PGA Tour victory.
Aldrich Potgieter Knocking on PGA Tour Door
He entered Sunday’s final round with a two shot lead. But there were more than 25 golfers within four shots, including Morikawa.
Morikawa came out hot, birdieing two of his first three holes. However, he would cool down and finish at 4-under for the day, entering the clubhouse at 19-under.
That was never going to be enough this week.
Meanwhile, Potgieter has gone back and forth with Chris Kirk, Jake Knapp, and a few others taking turns leading the Rocket Classic.
The South African golfer struggled early on Sunday. He bogeyed two of his first five holes, falling three back of the lead. Yet, he played the next nine holes at 4-under to take a one-shot lead.
An ill-timed bogey on the par-3 15th cost him dearly, though. As he plays the 18th hole, Potgieter is tied at 22-under with Kirk and Max Greyserman.
Will Potgieter get his first PGA Tour victory? We’ll know within the next half hour.
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