The 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa., features many of the game’s biggest stars. South African Aldrich Potgieter outplayed them on Thursday.
Unheralded Potgieter, 21, has won just one event in two seasons on the PGA Tour and thus wasn’t considered a favorite to win the tournament. That should change after his terrific outing on the first day of the four-day event.
Aldrich Potgieter surprised on the first day of PGA Championship
Potgieter shot a 67 (3-under-par) on Thursday. It marks the seventh time he has shot a 67 or lower this season. He last did so during the first three rounds of the RBC Heritage in April.
Attribute that to excellent putting, which isn’t normally his strong suit. The 2026 PGA Tour Driving Distance leader (326.9 feet per drive) made 16-of-16 putts inside 15 feet on Thursday.
