Thomas Detry Claims First PGA TOUR Victory at WM Phoenix Open with a Dominant Finish
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — Thomas Detry had long been recognized for his talent, but before he could claim a PGA TOUR title, he had to overcome himself.
The 31-year-old Belgian secured his first PGA TOUR win Sunday at the WM Phoenix Open, finishing at 24-under par with a dominant closing stretch at TPC Scottsdale. Detry birdied the final four holes to secure a seven-stroke victory over Michael Kim and Daniel Berger.
Detry, who entered the final round with a five-shot lead, briefly saw his advantage shrink to three before responding with a flawless finish. His victory makes him the first Belgian winner in PGA TOUR history and his first professional win since the 2016 Bridgestone Challenge on the Challenge Tour.
“I just stayed in the moment,” Detry said. “I knew if I trusted my process, I could finish strong.”
Detry’s physical talent had never been in question, but his mindset had often held him back. Known for projecting ahead rather than staying in the moment, he struggled to manage pressure in key situations.
Determined to change that, Detry turned to meditation and sports psychology, encouraged by his wife, Sarah, and a cousin. The practice helped him control his emotions and maintain focus under pressure.
“At first, your mind just jumps all over the place,” Detry said. “But the more you work on it, the more you can bring yourself back when you start rushing.”
That work was tested Sunday on the par-5 13th hole, where he three-putted for par while Berger birdied, cutting the lead to three shots. In the past, such a moment may have derailed him. This time, Detry refocused and closed with four consecutive birdies, sealing the biggest win of his career.
His wife credited his success to a newfound dedication to mental training.
“You think you don’t need it, but once you start working on it, you realize it’s as important as any other part of your game,” she said.
The WM Phoenix Open is known for its raucous crowd, particularly at the par-3 16th stadium hole, where fans cheer and jeer without restraint. Detry embraced the moment.
After his bogey-free back nine, Jordan Spieth (T4) watched on the clubhouse TV, smiling as Detry sank a 10-foot putt on the 18th green.
Runner-up Michael Kim wasn’t surprised.
“He got me again,” Kim joked, recalling how Detry’s Illinois team defeated his Cal-Berkeley squad in the 2013 NCAA semifinals.
This time, Detry got the entire WM Phoenix Open field.
And if his mental transformation holds, it likely won’t be his last win.
