For weeks, one name has dominated the headlines in golf: Thomas Detry. The 31-year-old Belgian star shocked the field at the WM Phoenix Open, delivering a career-defining performance to outshine some of the sport’s biggest names—including Scottie Scheffler, Hideki Matsuyama, and a host of PGA Tour powerhouses.
It was the kind of breakthrough moment every golfer dreams of. For Detry, it was years in the making.
“Every Year, I Thought This Was It”—Detry’s Long-Awaited Victory
Victory at a PGA Tour event had been a relentless goal for Detry. Year after year, he believed his time would come, only to fall short. But this time, under the scorching Arizona sun, he finally broke through.
“I mean, winning has been a goal of mine for the last four or five years,” Detry admitted, as quoted by The Golfing Gazette. “Every year I’m like, this is the year I’m going to win, so this is amazing.”
The humility in his words was striking. Unlike some who might bask in their sudden rise, Detry remained grounded, knowing that one win doesn’t define a career—it’s what comes next that truly matters.
Chasing Greatness: Detry Wants to Follow Scottie Scheffler’s Path
Detry’s win was impressive, but even he knows that sustained dominance is what separates the elite from the rest. And no one in recent years has defined dominance like Scottie Scheffler.
The 28-year-old world No. 1 has turned the PGA Tour into his personal playground, racking up victories, outpacing his rivals, and becoming a nightmare for any opponent who dares to challenge him.
Detry understands that beating Scheffler once is one thing—becoming the next Scheffler is another challenge entirely.
“My goals are just to keep playing well and keep putting myself in contention and hopefully improve in these situations,” Detry said. “Like when I’m under pressure and when I’m in contention, just keep getting better at it, and hopefully I’ll be like Scottie Scheffler one day.”
That’s a bold ambition, but it’s exactly the mindset required to cement a place among golf’s elite.
Can Detry Keep Up the Momentum?
One tournament does not make a legend. Many players have had a flash-in-the-pan moment, only to fade away when the spotlight grows brighter.
The real test for Detry begins now.
- Can he build off this momentum and contend regularly?
- Will he maintain his composure under the pressure of heightened expectations?
- Does he have what it takes to challenge Scheffler and the PGA Tour’s best on a weekly basis?
Scheffler, despite a rare off-week, is still the most feared player in golf. If Detry wants to join that level, his Phoenix Open win must be the first of many—not just a one-time triumph.
One thing is certain: the golf world is watching.