Well if you were one of the select few to pick Thomas Detry as the 2025 Phoenix Open winner, make sure you give yourself a huge pat on the back as the Belgian’s win was one that few saw coming.
Having played well through the first two rounds in Phoenix, he came alive during the third round and made the most of the decent scoring conditions to start the final round with a five stroke lead.
With the final round taking place in its regular traditional slate of Super Bowl Sunday, it’s fair to say that the American crowd were heavily rooting for an American winner. And although both Jordan Spieth and Scottie Scheffler briefly threatened to deliver what the Phoenix crowd wanted, Detry remained unflustered as he sought out his first victory on the PGA Tour. Remaining cool and calm, the Belgian produced a remarkable finish with four successive birdies to win by a whopping seven strokes.
Here are some of the main headlines to have emerged from a truly brilliant week of action.
Detry shows no signs of final day nerves and has firmly put up his hand for Ryder Cup selection
It’s been thirteen years since the European Ryder Cup team last tasted success on American soil. Four years ago the Europeans were simply steamrolled by an inspired American squad at Whistling Straits and ahead of this year’s match which will be played at one of the toughest courses in America, Bethpage Black, European Captain Luke Donald will be delighted with how some of his potential team have started their season.
Last week it was Rory McIlroy who showed all of his class as he won his and the season’s first Signature Event and this week it was one of his outsiders who was able to make a significant move.
Those who follow the PGA Tour closely would have seen Thomas Detry’s name up near the top of countless leaderboards, but despite finding himself in contention, the Belgian hasn’t quite been able to keep it together and headed into the 2025 season still seeking a maiden PGA Tour victory.
Clearly having learnt from those near misses in the past, Detry found himself five shots clear heading into the final round of the Phoenix Open and it was clear right from the offset that this time would be different.
Despite the ramped up atmosphere and others making their moves, Detry started his final round off in the perfect way with an opening hole birdie. Although he would give that shot straight back on the next hole, he would immediately respond with yet another birdie and from there it would be smooth sailing all the way home.
Making the turn at -1 for his round, as Detry got closer to the finish line, he would find his best golf.
Picking up a birdie on the eleventh, another would follow on the fifteenth. Heading into the colosseum of the 16th, he hit the best shot of the day, stiffing his approach to just a foot. Knocking in the simple birdie putt with glee, a further birdie would follow on the seventeenth before he put an exclamation mark on his victory with a walk off birdie up the last.
Becoming the first Belgian in history to win on the PGA Tour, what was impressive was how effortless he made it all appear. Despite the crowd being raucous and his game being put under severe stress, he remained focused and calm and it’s his mental state which would have made Luke Donald so pleased.
With the atmosphere in New York set to reach fever pitch by the time the 2025 Ryder Cup rolls around, Donald will need twelve men who he knows will be able to handle the pressure and the environment. With how Detry played better as both the pressure and atmosphere grew, you can be assured that Donald would have taken notice and will be greatly considering Detry by the time he needs to pick his team.
After a rough 2024, Spieth bounces back with a positive showing
Jordan Spieth once had the golfing world at his feet. A winner of the PGA Championship, Masters and Open, Spieth stood on the brink of a second Masters crown before dunking his ball twice into the water on the tricky par 3 12th. He would go onto lose that Masters to Danny Willett and it’s fair to say that since then, Spieth has never quite been the same.
Having tinkered with his swing in almost every imaginable way, Spieth’s game of late has been plagued by inaccuracies and he simply hasn’t been consistent enough to play winning golf.
With the American suffering huge discomfort with a nagging wrist injury last season, Spieth turned up to Phoenix as somewhat of a forgotten man, but after four positive days Spieth left the desert with the wind seemingly in his sails.
Although he wasn’t able to capture this title, Spieth looked to be in control of his game once more and his fourth place finish was without doubt a step in the right direction. Crucially for his fans, Spieth went 45 holes without dropping a shot and at times it looked like the Texan had the ball under his spell.
Yes, the final round didn’t contain the magic of the previous three, but Spieth showed enough to suggest that his game is trending in the right direction once again. He still has plenty of work to do if he is to become a major force in the game once more but it could be that this week is the start of Spieth’s resurgence back up the rankings and back into the golfing limelight.
Scheffler shows signs of rust, will be looking to bounce back at the Genesis
Scottie Scheffler’s 2025 got off to a slow start thanks to injuring himself. With the injury ruling him out of the first few tournaments of the season, Scheffler made a pleasing return at the AT&T Championship last week, posting a top ten finish.
With plenty of momentum and positivity behind him, he headed to the Arizona desert hopeful of winning a third Waste Management Open in the last four years, but things didn’t quite go to plan this week.
Usually so accurate off the tee, his radar was slightly off this week and when needing to scramble his usual deft touch let him down. Having worked his way into a position where he could apply the pressure on the leaders, we have been so accustomed to seeing Scheffler fly up the leaderboard but with his opportunity in sight, for once the Texan fluffed his lines.
Chasing too hard, Scheffler would go onto drop five shots in his final six holes and from looking in a position from where he would challenge, he would have to settle for a 25th place finish.
Winning golf tournaments is hard but for the first time in a long time Scheffler looked mortal and it looks like he will have plenty of work to do if he is to get back to winning ways at next week’s Genesis Invitational.
Jack Hartman
A keen golfer and huge fan of the game, Jack has been covering golf for the last five years. Bringing you all the latest coverage and news from the PGA, LIV, LPGA and DP World Tours, never before has golf been so popular and Jack can’t wait to bring all the excitement to his readers.
