🏆 Champion’s Share: $1.728 MillionAldrich Potgieter claimed his first PGA Tour victory at the Rocket Classic 2025 — a stunning playoff win over Max Greyserman and Chris Kirk — and earned $1,728,000. This sum represents 18% of the total $9.6 million purse .
Potgieter, just 20, became the youngest South African winner on the PGA Tour .
He triumphed after a dramatic 5-hole playoff, sealing victory with a clutch 17‑foot birdie putt .
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đź’µ Runner-Up and Top 5 Earnings
T2 (Max Greyserman & Chris Kirk): Each earned $854,400 — half of the champion’s prize .
T4 (Michael Thorbjornsen & Jake Knapp): Each took home $432,000 .
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Mid-Field Prize Breakdown
The Rocket Classic’s structured distribution saw payouts taper as follows:
T6 (Jackson Suber & Nico Echavarria): $336,000 each
T8 (Thriston Lawrence, Kevin Roy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa, Andrew Putnam): $261,600 each
T13 (Min Woo Lee, Hideki Matsuyama, Chandler Phillips, Ben Griffin, Harry Hall, Mark Hubbard): $172,000 each
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Deeper Cuts Earnings
Even players deep into the field made notable earnings:
T19: $117,984
T24: $88,800
T26: $70,080
T32: $58,560
T34: ~$47,931
T41: $36,000
T46: ~$27,091
T51: ~$22,709
T60: $21,024
T67: $19,776
T73: $18,720
T78: $17,856
T82: $17,280
Individual finishers just outside ties still earned in the $16,600–$17,000 range .
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🧠Contextual Overview
1. Purse Size & Growth
The total purse of $9.6 million is a steady increase, up from $9.2 million in 2024 .
In comparison:
2024 champion Cameron Davis won $1.656 million, just slightly less .
2023: $8.8 million purse, $1.584 million winner’s share .
2. Prize Distribution
PGA Tour events follow a standard progression:
Winner: ~18% of the purse.
Second (solo): ~9%.
Third: ~5–6%, and so on, with consistent drops per placement .
3. Significance for Potgieter
This breakthrough win is not only lucrative but career-launching: 500 FedExCup points + $1.728M prize .
Made in just his 20th PGA Tour start.
The cash significantly aids his standing: exempt status, Tour security, endorsements, and future scheduling.
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Why the Champion’s Cut Matters
1. Immediate Financial Security
$1.728 million is a career-altering sum — especially for a rookie — funding travel, coaching, living, and preparation for future events.
2. Tour Status & Access
Winning grants a two-year PGA Tour exemption, invites to majors, and better field access — essential for long-term success.
3. Catalyst for Future Momentum
Aside from finances, status and confidence surge: many rookies use that first check to springboard further wins.
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đź’ˇ Highlights by Numbers (Summary Table)
Position Earnings per Player
1st $1,728,000
T2 $854,400
T4 $432,000
T6 $336,000
T8 $261,600
T13 $172,000
T19 $117,984
T24 $88,800
T26 $70,080
… …
Last finishers (~86th) ~$16,600–17,000
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🚀 Big Picture
The Rocket Classic sits mid-tier on the PGA Tour, with a nearly $10 million purse. While not a “signature” event like the Players (ca. $20m), its top prize remains hefty and career-defining.
For Aldrich Potgieter, the $1.728 million check achieves:
Financial return on early-career investment.
Full exemption into PGA Tour events through 2026.
A momentous confidence boost and media spotlight.
He joins a notable list of champions — such as Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, Cameron Davis — who’ve turned Rocket Classic wins into springboards for major careers .
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âś… In Summary
Aldrich Potgieter’s playoff triumph delivered a $1.728 million payday — approximately 18% of the $9.6 million purse — marking a milestone in both earnings and career progression. From T2s earning over $850k to deep-field players still walking away with five-figures, the Rocket Classi
c’s payout structure highlights both elite reward and broad golfer compensation. For Potgieter, the win is more than just the money — it’s a launchpad.
