Somewhere in Belgium, waffle makers are overheating because Thomas Detry just made history. The man who’s been hanging around leaderboards like a lost puppy for years finally decided to go full alpha mode at the WM Phoenix Open.
Detry took one look at the leaderboard, saw guys like Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, and Daniel Berger lurking, and basically said, “Nah, not today.” Entering the final round with a five-shot lead, Detry navigated the chaos of TPC Scottsdale like a seasoned veteran (or a guy who really didn’t want to blow his first big shot). The moment of truth came on the rowdiest hole in golf, the 16th, where he hit an absolute dart to 16 inches to all but slam the door shut.
He wasn’t done yet. Detry added two more birdies just to flex on the field, finishing at 24-under 260, making history as the first Belgian to win on the PGA Tour. So yeah, no big deal or anything.
A Long Time Coming
Detry’s rise to glory has been anything but quick. As a junior, he was part of the 2010 Junior Ryder Cup team that got waxed by Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. But hey, revenge is a dish best served cold (preferably with syrup, because, you know, waffles).
This time, Detry didn’t let the golden boys of golf take him down. Scheffler, Spieth, and Berger all tried to rain on his parade, but Detry pulled out the metaphorical umbrella and shut them down with pure ball-striking and some ice-cold putting.
The Guys Who Tried (And Failed)
Daniel Berger did his best to spoil the Belgian bash, shooting 67 to tie for second with Michael Kim, who also shot 67 (not that anyone really noticed). Spieth, still working off the rust from wrist surgery, fired a 68 to finish fourth at 16 under, which is respectable but definitely not enough to steal the spotlight from Detry’s waffle-fueled excellence.
Then there’s Justin Thomas, who gave us a fun little highlight by holing out from 103 yards for eagle on 18. Cool moment, JT, but we all know you just wanted to make the broadcast cut.
The Takeaway
Detry’s win at TPC Scottsdale proves two things:
- Perseverance pays off, even if it takes 68 starts.
- The world needs more Belgian golfers (and, honestly, more waffles).
If Detry can keep this up, maybe he’ll make winning a habit. Or maybe he’ll just ride off into the sunset with his trophy and a plate of syrup-drenched victory. Either way, we’re here for it.