Thomas Detry’s maiden PGA Tour win was only a matter of time after the Belgian joined golf’s elite circuit in 2023.
Last year, Detry finished runner-up once, in the top ten four times, and made 16/25 cuts. He also ended the PGA Championship in a tie for fourth and led the US Open during the second round at Pinehurst No.2.
And, after a fast start to the 2025 season, Detry’s WM Phoenix Open win does not come as a surprise.
Detry enjoyed a stress-free walk up the 18th at TPC Scottsdale before holing his birdie putt to secure a seven-shot victory. With the likes of Jordan Spieth in pursuit, it was a hugely impressive performance from the 32-year-old.
Thomas Detry’s ‘shocking’ swing issue before WM Phoenix Open
Before Detry’s maiden PGA Tour win, the Belgian had actually run into issues with his swing.
Jerome Theunis, Detry’s coach, told the Sky Sports Golf Podcast that the 32-year-old had contacted him late on Tuesday night about a technical fault with his swing.
“On Tuesday night, he woke me up at 3 am. He was standing on the range, and he was telling me, ‘I am shocking, brutally, fatting every shot, hitting it off the heel’,” Theunis said.
“I said hold on, switched on the light and said, send me a couple of swings; I will do a video analysis. I have these videos where I am comparing his swing from the Farmers and his swing from there. I said give me 15 minutes, either I am not awake enough or I can’t see a difference. It might just be one of these days.
“Anyway, we found one little thing and he said you have said that to me before. I said you need to work on that little drill. He worked really hard on Tuesday and then he sent me a message saying it was brilliant, striking the ball really well today, let’s see how the week goes.”
Thomas Detry’s Ryder Cup chances discussed after WM Phoenix Open win
Clearly, whatever Theunis told Detry worked, and the Belgian will now be on Luke Donald’s radar ahead of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
After Sepp Straka won The Amex and Rory McIlroy the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Donald will be thrilled with how his European stars have performed on US soil thus far.
Few Europeans have been as consistent as Detry over the past 12 months, and the Belgian provides Donald with yet more strength in depth if some of his star names are out of form heading to Bethpage.
Detry is now fifth in the European Ryder Cup standings after jumping 23 places.
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