{"id":40464,"date":"2026-02-05T10:16:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T14:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wm-phoenix-open-winner-thomas-detry-dominates-with-7-shot-victory\/"},"modified":"2026-02-05T10:16:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T14:16:35","slug":"87734-wm-phoenix-open-winner-thomas-detry-dominates-with-7-shot-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/87734-wm-phoenix-open-winner-thomas-detry-dominates-with-7-shot-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"WM Phoenix Open winner Thomas Detry dominates with 7-shot victory"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thomas Detry<\/b> achieved what he’d waited his entire career for. The Belgian golfer<\/b> dominated the WM Phoenix Open<\/b> with a commanding seven-shot victory<\/b>, firing 24-under 260<\/b> to become golf’s newest champion. His breakthrough moment arrived on February 9, 2025<\/b>, at the raucous TPC Scottsdale<\/b>.<\/p>\n

\n

\ud83d\udd25 Quick Facts<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Final Score<\/b>: 24-under 260<\/b>, winning by seven shots over second place<\/li>\n
  • Historic Win<\/b>: First Belgian golfer to claim a PGA Tour<\/b> victory in tour history<\/li>\n
  • Final Round<\/b>: 6-under 65<\/b> with four closing birdies, including near-ace on hole 16<\/li>\n
  • Runners-Up<\/b>: Daniel Berger<\/b> and Michael Kim<\/b> tied at 17-under 273<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

    How a Belgian Star Silenced the Chaos at Rowdy TPC Scottsdale<\/h2>\n

    Thomas Detry<\/b> entered the final day with a five-shot lead<\/b>, but the raucous crowd at the WM Phoenix Open<\/b> tested his nerves. He’d struggled with pressure before, his heart racing and mind rushing ahead during tight moments. This time, he took control.<\/p>\n

    Detry used meditation<\/b> and ice baths<\/b> before his final two rounds to calm his racing thoughts. The routine worked. He felt zero nerves<\/b> on the opening tee, allowing his exceptional ball-striking to shine. The 32-year-old<\/b> navigated the screaming fans and tricky conditions with remarkable poise, something critics said he lacked.<\/p>\n

    His rivals sensed trouble early. Scottie Scheffler<\/b>, golf’s world number one, made a late charge but couldn’t find an answer. Daniel Berger<\/b> pulled to within three shots before Detry answered every birdie with one of his own.<\/p>\n

    The Magical Stretch That Sealed His Destiny<\/h2>\n

    The turning point came at hole 16<\/b>, the tournament’s most chaotic spot. Detry nearly holed his tee shot from the par-3, settling for a 16-inch putt<\/b> that all but clinched his first PGA Tour<\/b> title after 68<\/b> previous starts. The near-ace sparked a devastating four-birdie surge that left no doubt.<\/p>\n

    He followed with birdies on 17<\/b> and 18<\/b>, the latter a perfect 9-foot putt<\/b> to punctuate one of golf’s most dominant performances. The Belgian played 24 under par<\/b> for the week, an extraordinary display of consistency on the treacherous desert layout.<\/p>\n

    According to PGA Tour<\/b> officials, Detry’s seven-shot margin demonstrated the kind of complete mastery rarely seen in modern professional golf. He trusted his game, leaned on his preparation, and refused to let the pressure derail him.<\/p>\n

    Breaking Through After Years of Near-Misses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Statistic<\/td>\nDetail<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Score<\/td>\n24-under 260<\/b> (rounds: 66, 64, 65, 65)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Victory Margin<\/td>\n7 shots<\/b> over finalists<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Runner-Up<\/td>\nDaniel Berger<\/b>, 17-under<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Course<\/td>\nTPC Scottsdale Stadium Course<\/b>, Arizona<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

    The Belgian champion<\/b> had been knocking on the door for years. A two-time Olympics<\/b> representative for Belgium, Detry won the European Challenge Tour’s<\/b> Bridgestone Challenge in 2016<\/b> but couldn’t convert his talent into a PGA Tour<\/b> win. He’d finished runner-up twice, most recently at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open<\/b>.<\/p>\n

    Perfect weather and a composed mindset finally gave him his moment. Detry<\/b> said after his victory, “This course has birdies, but miss fairways and the firm greens bite you. I trusted my game and relied on that.” His words reflected a player who’d finally silenced his inner doubts.<\/p>\n

    “I tried to just do my best to put pressure on him, but every time I felt like I made a birdie, he made one back. He was playing really great golf today and he was deserving to win this.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    \u2014 Daniel Berger<\/b>, PGA Tour Competitor<\/p>\n

    What’s Next for the New Belgian Golfing Icon<\/h2>\n

    Detry’s breakthrough victory on PGA Tour<\/b> soil cement his status as one of Europe’s elite talents. The 32-year-old<\/b> had long possessed the skills, but this win proved he possessed the mental fortitude to win at golf’s highest level. Golf fans worldwide took notice of his dominance.<\/p>\n

    His near-ace on the famous 16th hole<\/b> became an instant highlight, capturing the raw drama of TPC Scottsdale<\/b>. That single moment, followed by three more birdies, told the story of a golfer who refused to crack under pressure. The European Tour<\/b> standout finally belonged at the PGA Tour<\/b>‘s winner’s circle.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Watch: Detry’s Championship Highlights<\/h3>\n