What a wild ride it was in Detroit! The 2025 Rocket Classic — formerly the Rocket Mortgage Classic — turned into a full-blown showdown that fans won’t forget anytime soon. It took five extra holes, a dramatic birdie, and a nerve-wracking playoff to finally crown a winner. And the name on top? None other than Aldrich Potgieter — the 20-year-old sensation who just made history as the youngest South African ever to snag a PGA Tour win.
⛳ Let’s Set the Scene…
By the end of regulation, three players stood locked in a dead heat at 22-under par:
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Aldrich Potgieter
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Chris Kirk
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Max Greyserman
What followed was an epic five-hole playoff filled with tension, clutch putts, and gut-punch misses.
Kirk was the first to bow out, stumbling with a missed short par putt on the second extra hole — a cruel twist after a solid Sunday performance. That left it down to Potgieter and Greyserman. And oh boy, it didn’t disappoint.
🏌️ The Winning Moment: Ice in the Veins
On the fifth playoff hole — the par-3 15th — Potgieter faced a 17-foot birdie putt with the tournament hanging in the balance.
He drilled it.
Just like that, the 20-year-old South African wrote his name into the record books. No wild celebration, no fist-pumping theatrics — just cool, calm, and collected greatness. Meanwhile, Greyserman could only watch and nod in admiration.
📈 From 73rd to 36th: Potgieter's FedEx Cup Leap
Talk about a game-changer. With this win, Potgieter not only bags $1,728,000, but also 500 FedEx Cup points, skyrocketing from 73rd to 36th in the standings.
Oh, and let’s not forget: this was his first-ever PGA Tour victory.
🌪️ The Sunday Madness: Greyserman and Kirk Hang Tough
Both Max Greyserman and Chris Kirk played beautifully in the final round, each carding 67s to slide into that playoff slot. Greyserman may have fallen just short, but he earned his second Top 10 of the season and a sixth career runner-up finish. That’s consistency knocking on the winner’s door.
They each walked away with $854,400 for their share of second place. Not too shabby.
💥 Other Standouts Who Made Noise
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Jake Knapp had folks buzzing after he set a new course record earlier in the week. But a final-round 68 just wasn’t enough to force a playoff. He ended T4 at 21-under, tied with Michael Thorbjornsen. Both earned a cool $432,000.
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Nico Echavarria and Jackson Suber tied for sixth at 20-under, netting $336,000 apiece.
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Matt Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa, Andrew Putnam, and Thriston Lawrence were part of a five-way tie for eighth at 19-under, each pocketing $261,600.
💸 Full Payout Breakdown from the Rocket Classic 2025
| Position | Player(s) | Score | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aldrich Potgieter | -22 | $1,728,000 |
| T2 | Max Greyserman, Chris Kirk | -22 | $854,000 |
| T4 | Michael Thorbjornsen, Jake Knapp | -21 | $432,000 |
| T6 | Nico Echavarria, Jackson Suber | -20 | $336,000 |
| T8 | Kevin Roy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa, Thriston Lawrence, Andrew Putnam | -19 | $261,600 |
| T13 | Min Woo Lee, Hideki Matsuyama, Chandler Phillips, Ben Griffin, Harry Hall, Mark Hubbard | -18 | $172,000 |
| T19 | Sami Valimaki, Matt McCarty, Chan Kim, Cameron Champ, Doug Ghim | -17 | $117,984 |
| T24 | Harry Higgs, Nicolai Højgaard | -16 | $88,800 |
| T26 | Akshay Bhatia, Michael Kim, Matthew Riedel, Jacob Bridgeman, Chris Gotterup, Chad Ramey | -15 | $70,080 |
| T32 | Vince Whaley, Patrick Cantlay | -14 | $58,560 |
| T34 | Kris Ventura, Joe Highsmith, Philip Knowles, Hayden Springer, Lee Hodges, William Mouw, Davis Thompson | -13 | $47,932 |
| T41 | Keegan Bradley, Luke List, Thorbjørn Olesen, Ryan Gerard, Peter Malnati | -12 | $36,000 |
| T46 | Matt Wallace, Takumi Kanaya, Gary Woodland, Cameron Young, Justin Lower | -11 | $27,091 |
| T51 | Victor Perez, Nick Hardy, Henrik Norlander, Lanto Griffin, Aaron Wise, Webb Simpson, Thomas Rosenmueller, Will Gordon, Kurt Kitayama | -10 | $22,709 |
| T60 | Byeong Hun An, Austin Eckroat, Luke Clanton, Isaiah Salinda, Ryo Hisatsune, Beau Hossler, Paul Peterson | -9 | $21,024 |
| T67 | Davis Riley, David Skinns, Gordon Sargent, Camilo Villegas, Ben Silverman, Brett White | -8 | $19,776 |
| T73 | James Piot, Antoine Rozner, Kaito Onishi, Emiliano Grillo, Kevin Velo | -7 | $18,720 |
| T78 | Quade Cummins, Erik van Rooyen, Ben Kohles, Adam Hadwin | -6 | $17,856 |
| T82 | Harrison Endycott, Zach Johnson | -5 | $17,280 |
| 84 | Si Woo Kim | -4 | $16,992 |
| 85 | Mason Andersen | -3 | $16,800 |
| 86 | Cristobal Del Solar | -2 | $16,608 |
🔜 What’s Next? The John Deere Classic in Silvis
The tour rolls on next week to Silvis, Illinois, for the always-entertaining John Deere Classic. After the fireworks in Detroit, the field will be looking to match (or top) the excitement. Will Potgieter ride the momentum? Or will someone else step up?
💬 Final Thoughts: A Star Is Born?
It’s not every week we witness the birth of a potential superstar. Aldrich Potgieter didn’t just win a tournament — he outlasted seasoned pros, showed nerves of steel, and made the clutch shots when it mattered most. At just 20, his ceiling looks sky-high.
Keep an eye on this kid. The Rocket Classic might be remembered not just as a wild playoff finish — but as the launchpad for a future PGA Tour giant.
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