Potgieter Abruptly Withdraws from John Deere Classic
Rising star exits after promising start turns sour.
After beginning Saturday’s John Deere Classic just three strokes behind the leader, Aldrich Potgieter surprisingly withdrew from the tournament; his promising start dissolved after a difficult round.
Unexpected Exit
Potgieter, fresh off his first PGA Tour victory last Sunday at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, struggled mightily, shooting a 5-over 76. This poor showing dropped him to 4-under, tying him for 58th. Approximately two hours later, the 20-year-old from South Africa pulled out of the competition, stunning fans and fellow golfers.
Neither Potgieter nor PGA Tour representatives have released a statement explaining the reason for his sudden departure.
Looking Ahead
Potgieter is currently slated to participate in next week’s Genesis Scottish Open. Should he play, it would be his third consecutive tournament appearance, but only his fourth since late May. Following the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial, Potgieter took a four-week break to recharge and test out new equipment.
As of July 2024, Potgieter is not yet qualified for The Open Championship. However, his world ranking of No. 49 offers a potential path. He could gain entry via the reserve list, which is determined by Monday’s updated world rankings.
Currently, the average age of a PGA tour winner is 33 years old, demonstrating how young Potgieter is in comparison to his competition (Golf Distillery 2024).
