He is the only golfer on the PGA Tour who drove the ball further than Rory McIlroy in the 2026 season
The 2026 PGA Tour season concluded last weekend at the Tour Championship, with Scottie Scheffler winning by three strokes. With a three-week hiatus until the Biltmore Championship Asheville, this is the perfect time to reflect on the past season.
In the concluding weeks of the 2026 PGA Tour season, Aldrich Potgieter emerged as the longest driver on the tour. The 21-year-old South African outdriven Rory McIlroy by an average of 0.8 yards, with Potgieter achieving an average driving distance of 331.1 yards compared to McIlroy's 330.3 yards. However, Potgieter's accuracy off the tee was significantly lower than McIlroy's, ranking him 147th in driving accuracy with a 51.83% fairway hit rate.
McIlroy, on the other hand, ranked in the top 10 for strokes gained off the tee. This discrepancy highlights the importance of accuracy in golf, as Potgieter's poor iron play and lower fairway hit rate prevented him from fully capitalizing on his exceptional driving distance.
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