Aldrich Potgieter, standing on the practice green at Detroit Golf Club, said the most challenging part of his life was moving to Australia when he was 8 and returning to South Africa at age 17 because the COVID-19 pandemic limited his opportunities to compete.
Potgieter is about to face another test.
The PGA Tour's youngest player and biggest hitter is going into the final round of the Rocket Classic with a two-shot lead, hoping to hold off a pack of players, including Collin Morikawa, for his first victory on the circuit.
"The leaderboard's so stacked," Potgieter said after he had five straight birdies in a 7-under 65 to surge into the lead Saturday.
The 20-year-old tour rookie started the week averaging 326.6 yards off the tee - several yards longer than Rory McIlroy - and credits his multi-sport childhood.