Way back in 2021, at the height of Bryson Do-you-even-lift-bro? mania, Bryson DeChambeau shocked the golf world when he stepped up to the 6th tee at Bay Hill and launched a 340-metre drive across heard around the golf world. The drive, which cut across the widest span of the par 5’s sprawling lake, traveled 340m, and although it didn’t quite find the green, it landed squarely in the golf history books.
If that was the best drive ever seen on Bay Hill’s signature hole, we have now seen the worst courtesy of South African pro Aldrich Potgieter. On Thursday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Potgieter took an extremely aggressive line off the 6th tee, evoking sepia-tinged memories of DeChambeau’s fateful missile. But instead of celebrating with both his hands raised in defiance of the golf gods, Potgieter skulled his tee shot straight to Davey Jones’ Locker. Watch it and wince.
sick @fried_egg_golf pic.twitter.com/bYYvaCuCdK
— Ol’ Roy (@RoyW_903) March 6, 2025
The Shotlink data indicates that Potgieter’s ill-fated attempt at glory traveled 197m, coming up just a few yards shy of safety.
We don’t know if computers are developing empathy, because the video footage tells a very different story. Potgieter’s ball slams into the water like a downed fighter jet about one-and-a-half Mississippi after it leaves his club face. To the naked it eye, it looks like the shot traveled a little over a hundred yards, touching down at least 25m from dry land.
Yes, Shotlink. We are calling you a liar.
Whatever the truth, here’s what we know for sure: Potgieter went on to double bogey the hole, posting a six-over 42 on the front nine. He certainly wasn’t the only pro to struggle with the tough conditions on Thursday morning at Bay Hill, but for better or worse (mostly worse), his gaffe was the most memorable.
