LOS ANGELES – As his offseason wound down, Aldrich Potgieter texted his agent and mentioned, “Wait until you see the new me.”
He wasn’t kidding.
After a number of months overhauling his coaching and weight loss plan, the 21-year-old, hard-hitting South African is down about 35 kilos from the place he ended final season. He’s hovering proper above 200 kilos, and the distinction is instantly recognizable.
“I got in a nice system where I can kind of grind on some things that you can’t really do when you’re out here,” mentioned Potgieter, who now works with famend coach Marnus Marais, whose unique checklist of clientele consists of world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. “And being on the Tour for three years now and away from home, you get into some bad habits, and it just builds up over time. So, I think having some two months off to work on some things were good.”
Potgieter’s offseason included different modifications, together with new administration (Entertainment Sports Partners), tools (PXG) and attire (additionally PXG). Although the load loss went shortly, Potgieter has been slower to adjust with the golf equipment.
He continues to be very lengthy, rating third on Tour, however entered this week’s Genesis Invitational ranked outdoors the highest 130 in strokes gained strategy, across the inexperienced and placing.
That contributed to Potgieter lacking cuts on the American Express, Farmers Insurance Open and WM Phoenix Open earlier than tying for sixtieth in opposition to a restricted area at pebble beach.
Perhaps it is starting to all come collectively at Riviera, the place Potgieter has fired back-to-back, 3-under 68s to sit in rivalry getting into the weekend for the primary time since successful the Rocket Classic final July.
(*35*) Potgieter mentioned, “and I think we picked up a little few things that changed with my posture and how I’m setting up to the ball. Lost some weight, so I think that kind of played a bit of a factor. So, when we figured that out, it was a little bit better.”
