SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA | In a week with a hole-in-one, Shooter McGavin crashing a press conference and the typical party atmosphere at TPC Scottsdale, Thomas Detry emerged as the WM Phoenix Open champion. The 32-year-old claimed his first PGA Tour victory, became the tour’s first Belgian winner and vaulted himself into the European Ryder Cup mix.
“I felt nervous yesterday morning and last night,” Detry said. “I woke up this morning at 4 a.m. and couldn’t fall back asleep. But deep inside of me, I really trusted myself.”
Detry shot 24-under 260 in his second appearance at TPC Scottsdale. He held a two-stroke lead over the field after the second round and expanded that lead to five strokes going into the final round. Birdies on each of the last four holes Sunday, including one after a dart of a tee shot to within 16 inches at the par-3 16th, sealed his seven-stroke victory.
“The Ryder Cup is something that I really want to be part of. Being part of it would definitely be a dream, but I’m not really getting ahead of myself.”
Thomas Detry
“I didn’t realize it was that close to be honest,” Detry said. “But it was probably one of the best shots I’ve ever hit.”
With the victory, Detry took a large step toward making his first Ryder Cup team for September’s matches at Bethpage Black. The Belgian started the week ranked 28th on the European points list, and the win was expected to vault him close to the top six. If he is in the top six on Aug. 24, he will automatically qualify for the team.
“The Ryder Cup is something that I really want to be part of,” Detry said. “Being part of it would definitely be a dream, but I’m not really getting ahead of myself.”
Jordan Spieth impressed in his second start since returning from wrist surgery last August with a T-4 finish, shooting 16-under 268. After a bogey on the 18th hole in the first round (his ninth hole of the day), he went 48 holes without a bogey.
“It was a big progress week for me,” Spieth said. “I didn't feel like this was a one-off. It felt like this is just trending in the right direction.”
Justin Thomas, who finished a stroke behind Spieth at 15 under, capped a closing 65 with a 103-yard eagle at the 430-yard 18th hole. And on Friday, Argentine Emiliano Grillo brought the house down on the notorious 16th when he pulled out a pitching wedge and dunked the ball for an ace. As the fans erupted and threw their beverages onto the course, Grillo excitedly jumped around and hugged people on the tee box.
“The plan was to make it,” Grillo said. “You always dream of making a hole-in-one there, so every time that you step in there, you're trying to make it.”
It was the first hole-in-one on the 16th hole at the Phoenix Open since Carlos Ortiz’s in the final round in 2022. The ace had added significance for Grillo, as he finished the second round at 2-under par, right on the cut line, and advanced to the weekend.
On the other side of the cut line, top-ranked amateur and Florida State junior Luke Clanton missed the cut by a single stroke, shooting 74-67. Going into the tournament, Clanton stood at 19 points in PGA Tour University Accelerated. He needed to make the cut to earn another point and earn his card.
“It’s just not my time,” Clanton said. “The Lord has a plan for me in every single step I take and every single shot I hit. … The time will come, and I'm just going to stay confident with Him.”
Clanton says he’s excited to go back to Florida State to see his teammates and play some college events. Clanton’s next scheduled PGA Tour start is the Valspar Championship in March. However, there is a chance the amateur could receive a sponsor exemption into an event before then.
Everett Munez