Welcome to another episode of The Smylie Show! This week, Smylie Kaufman sits down with Aldrich Potgieter to unpack one of the fastest rises in professional golf.

Aldrich walks through his journey from growing up between South Africa and Australia to winning the British Amateur, playing major championships at 17, surviving Q-School, grinding through the Korn Ferry Tour, and breaking through on the PGA Tour.

They dive deep into major championship moments, distance control, equipment decisions, working with Justin Parsons, earning a PGA Tour card under pressure, and managing expectations as one of the youngest players on Tour. Stick around for a fun ending, as Charlie joins with his second-ever E9 segment!

Chris Gotterup opened the 2026 PGA Tour season with a statement win at the Sony Open in Hawaii, and Smylie Kaufman was on-site to call it all week on the Golf Channel.

Smylie and Charlie Hulme break down Gotterup’s dominant Sunday performance, his driving “superpowers,” and what parts of his game are taking him into an elite category on Tour.

Plus, thoughts on the future of PGA Tour events in Hawaii, Vijay Singh’s ageless performance, Jordan Spieth’s club tinkering, and quotes from Rory McIlroy on Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour and the future of LIV Golf.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Opening & Sony Open vibes in Hawaii
01:00 – Is this the last PGA Tour stop in Hawaii?
02:30 – Why players love starting the season at Sony
03:40 – Chris Gotterup takes control on Sunday
05:10 – Gotterup’s driving power & elite upside
07:00 – Jupiter move, TGL reps & confidence boost
09:00 – Shot shapes, fairways hit & closing mentality
11:00 – Final group chaos: Davis Riley & Harry Hall
13:30 – When the putter finally cools off
16:30 – What Davis Riley still needs to unlock
18:30 – Harry Hall’s week & breakout expectations
21:00 – Ryan Gerard’s runner-up & Masters momentum
23:30 – Vijay Singh’s made cut & career exemption
26:00 – Jordan Spieth stories, tinkering & wrist update
28:30 – Rory McIlroy on LIV, Brooks Koepka & the Tour
33:00 – LIV’s future, finances & 54 vs 72 holes
38:00 – Anthony Kim, promotions & alternative golf windows
41:30 – Previewing the American Express field
46:30 – Why top players love AmEx as a season opener
49:00 – Scottie Scheffler odds & course fit debate
52:00 – Final thoughts & wrap-up

#golf #pgatour #smylieshow #sonyopen

Ludvig Åberg joins Smylie Kaufman to dive deep on a number of topics - witnessing Rory McIlroy's shot of the 2025 Masters from a fairway over, the strategy he employs at some of Augusta National's most pivotal holes, and nearly shooting a 59 at Bethpage Black!

One of the most talented young players in the game of golf, Ludvig begins by retracing an unusual start to the 2025 season - tons of promise derailed by sickness at Torrey Pines and Pebble Beach, before receiving a redemption shot a month later at the Genesis Invitational.

Ludvig also details some of the swing struggles he experienced in 2025, and what he's been working on to get to a more consistent place with the full swing, the short game, and even his putting setup.

Finally, Charlie Hulme joins for a brand-new show segment - "The E9" - to rapid-fire through a series of questions with Ludvig, ranging from golf to anything but.

Like, comment & subscribe for more golf insight ⛳️ Catch us every Wednesday on the Golf Channel at 9am ET!

CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Welcome to The Smylie Show
00:56 – Life in Jacksonville & offseason routine
02:49 – Early 2025 season & illness at Torrey Pines
05:21 – Pebble Beach withdrawal & physical recovery
07:18 – Genesis Invitational moves to Torrey Pines
08:46 – Sunday at Torrey: realizing a win was possible
11:38 – Seven-wood on 18 & closing the tournament
12:55 – Confidence after the biggest win of his career
14:12 – Augusta National: second-year advantage
20:00 – Sunday at Augusta with Rory & Bryson charging
22:23 – Aggression vs patience late on Sunday
26:17 – Why pressure situations are the goal
27:30 – Evaluating the 2025 season as a whole
29:42 – Swing changes: clubface control explained
33:12 – Pelvis load, sequencing & power
36:01 – GEARS data & offseason technical work
37:06 – Short game growth & wedge changes
41:15 – Putting setup, Quintic data & consistency
44:05 – Almost shooting 59 at Bethpage
46:15 – Ryder Cup fans, chirps & atmosphere
48:19 – "The E9" with Charlie Hulme
56:17 – Ludvig's upcoming PGA TOUR schedule

#golf #pgatour #golfchannel #ludvigaberg #smylieshow #smyliekaufman #golfhighlights #golfpodcast