Photo credit: www.skysports.com

Thomas Detry Secures Historic Win at WM Phoenix Open

In a remarkable display of skill and composure, Belgium’s Thomas Detry clinched his first PGA Tour victory with a resounding seven-shot lead at the WM Phoenix Open. Finishing the tournament at an impressive 24-under par, Detry made history as the first Belgian golfer to achieve a win on the prestigious tour.

American golfers Michael Kim and Daniel Berger both delivered strong performances, concluding the tournament tied for second place at 17-under par, following final-round scores of 67.

The only moment of uncertainty for Detry came when Berger made his fifth birdie on the 15th hole, momentarily cutting Detry’s lead to just two strokes. However, Detry swiftly answered back, sinking his own birdie on the same hole. He then effectively sealed his victory with an outstanding approach shot on the par-three 16th, which set up a simple tap-in birdie. Notably, Detry finished the event by sinking birdies on the last three holes.

In a heartwarming celebration on the 18th green, Detry was joined by his wife, Sarah, and their two children, basking in the joy of his achievement. The celebrations included a lighthearted soaking of champagne from fellow competitor Matt Wallace, who concluded his tournament at six-under par after a solid final round.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Jordan Spieth both finished closely behind at 16-under, while Justin Thomas made a spectacular move on the final hole, chipping in from 102 yards for an eagle, which propelled him into a tie for sixth place alongside Will Chandler and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler began the final round eight strokes behind Detry and initially threatened to make a comeback, starting the day with four birdies in the first six holes. Unfortunately, his momentum faltered on the back nine. He encountered bogeys on the 12th, 13th, and 16th holes, followed by a double bogey on the last hole. Scheffler ended the round five over par for the back nine, finishing tied for 25th, marking his first finish outside the top 20 since the previous June’s US Open.

Scheffler also had a challenging moment on the par-five 15th hole, where he found water after hooking his second shot. He managed to salvage a par after a penalty drop, showcasing his determination despite the setbacks he faced throughout the day.

Don’t miss The Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines this week, featuring Rory McIlroy and tournament host Tiger Woods. Watch live from 4 PM on Thursday. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW.

Source
www.skysports.com