Aldrich Potgieter denied PGA Tour glory as Campbell's lucky break seals victory

The 20-year-old South African had a golden opportunity to clinch victory but saw his six-foot birdie attempt slide past the hole, allowing Campbell to capitalise on a fortunate break and claim his first PGA Tour win.

Potgieter, a rising star from Pretoria, had led the tournament heading into the final round, but a steady final-round 71 saw him finish tied at the top with Campbell on 20-under 264. American Isaiah Salinda narrowly missed out on the playoff, finishing third on 265.

The playoff, played on the par-five 18th, saw both golfers scramble for par on the first extra hole. On the second playoff hole, Campbell's tee shot looked destined for trouble as it veered toward the out-of-bounds woods. However, in a moment of fortune, the ball struck a tree, bounced off a cart path, and rolled back into play to hand the American a lifeline.

Potgieter, in contrast, had positioned himself perfectly with a strong tee shot into the fairway. But his second shot found one of the small greenside bunkers, and his escape left him a challenging putt for birdie. With the door left open, Campbell made no mistake, sinking a three-and-a-half-foot birdie putt to clinch victory.

It was a cruel end to what had been a promising tournament for Potgieter, who had held a four-shot lead at the halfway mark after a sensational second-round 61. 

Despite the heartbreak, Potgieter's performance was another reminder of his immense talent. Still early in his professional career, the young South African has already shown he can compete with the best. If he continues on this trajectory, it won't be long before he secures his first PGA Tour title.

"Hopefully, my time will come soon," said Potgieter.

"Pressure is a big thing," he said. "You can't beat it. You just have to learn and adjust to it the next time."

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