The Rocket Classic could end up presenting us with a battle between two South Africans as both Thriston Lawrence and Aldrich Potgieter are in contention to win.
Potgieter is the overnight leader and is two ahead of a host of Americans including Jake Knapp and Max Greyserman.
However, the developing story is that of what could be a titanic battle between two of South Africa’s finest golfing exports.
Both Aldrich Potgieter and Thriston Lawrence have everything the modern golfer needs and both are chasing a first PGA Tour win.
Of course, Potgieter is the young upstart of the pair and according to Lawrence, it’s no surprise to see his fellow countryman doing well.
Thriston Lawrence delivers verdict on Aldrich Potgieter
Most people involved with golf know that Potgieter is very much one of the top up and comers in the modern game.
There’s been a buzz around him for some time and but for fluffing his lines at the Mexico Open in a playoff, he’d have already got a PGA Tour win under his belt.
Now, with a two shot lead going into round four in Detroit, Thriston Lawrence has praised his fellow South African.
“Yeah, he’s a good golfer, he hits it long. It’s a perfect golf course for him, there’s not a lot of trouble off the tee. Yeah, there’s a lot of good golfers around him as well. So yeah, he’s a good player but definitely going to try and do our best out there,” Lawrence said.
“Yeah, he’s a lot younger than me. When I turned pro he was probably 10 years old so didn’t play much golf with him. Played Zurich Classic with him last year, we were teammates. It was quite fun not hitting woods into par 5s.
“Yeah, obviously he’s had a few chances this year and haven’t really pulled off yet, so maybe it’s his day tomorrow, maybe it’s mine.”
What Collin Morikawa said about Aldrich Potgieter after seeing him up close
With Potgieter clearly making an impression on golf at the moment, the Rocket Classic has been an ideal chance for Collin Morikawa to get an up close look at him.
Morikawa has not played with him yet but this week he has seen the full might of the South African’s game in Detroit.
Indeed, Morikawa has been left suitably impressed by Potgieter as well.
“I’ve never seen it in person, I just see the numbers that he produces. He hits it very, very far. Look, I hope I’m within a handful tomorrow,” Morikawa admitted.
“On this course I think the winds go back to what we saw the first two days, par 5s get a little more gettable for me and hopefully we can just kind of get off to a nice start tomorrow and put a little pressure on them.”
With a tight leaderboard for Potgieter to try and hold off, it’s set to be an exciting finish in Detroit.
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