PGA Tour winner Aldrich Potgieter has spoken out following his sudden withdrawal from the Bank of Utah Championship, putting an end to swirling LIV Golf rumors.
The 21-year-old South African, who claimed his first PGA Tour victory earlier this year, pulled out of the event at Black Desert Resort after an opening-round 71, citing illness.
“Hey everyone, just wanted to clear things up since I’ve been getting a lot of messages,” Potgieter wrote on Instagram. “I had to withdraw after Round 1 because I came down with some pretty bad food poisoning—or a stomach bug. Nothing serious, just need some rest to recover. Appreciate all the messages and support.”
Potgieter’s exit quickly fueled speculation about a potential move to LIV Golf, particularly as several franchises in the breakaway league are expected to recruit new players ahead of the 2026 season. However, the young star appeared to shut down those rumors with another social media post reflecting on his successful rookie season.
“What a rookie season it’s been on the PGA Tour,” he wrote. “Grateful to get my first win, make the FedEx Cup playoffs, and take a lot of positives from the year. Excited for a bit of an off-season coming up with the Nedbank and Dunhillevents in South Africa to finish things off. Lots to work on before January rolls around for the start of the 2026 PGA Tour season. Big thanks to my team, family, friends, and all the support I get from the fans.”
Potgieter, currently ranked 52nd in the FedEx Cup standings, remains on the cusp of qualifying for next season’s Signature Events, such as the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Genesis Invitational. Speaking with the PGA Tour last week, he emphasized his focus on getting off to a strong start next season.
“Getting into those first two events would be huge for me,” Potgieter said. “It’s important to start the year strong. We’re looking forward to staying inside that top-60 and doing what we can to get into those spots.”
Adding another twist to the speculation, Potgieter has parted ways with his management company GSE Worldwide, which represents several prominent LIV players including Bryson DeChambeau, Abraham Ancer, and Joaquin Niemann. He has since joined Entertainment Sports Partners, the same agency that represents four-time major champion Ernie Els—a long-time critic of LIV Golf.
Els has previously described LIV as “circus golf,” saying, “I understand that the guys go because of the money. It’s just a ridiculous amount, and you get to a certain point in your career where you have to consider it.”
For now, though, Potgieter appears fully committed to the PGA Tour—focused on recovery, improvement, and continuing his upward trajectory heading into 2026.
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