Thomas Detry claimed his maiden PGA Tour title with a convincing WM Phoenix Open win at TPC Scottsdale.
The Belgian began the final round with a five-shot lead over Jordan Spieth, Rasmus Hojgaard, Daniel Berger and Michael Kim. However, while that would have given him plenty of confidence ahead of Sunday's action, some in the chasing pack threatened to quickly eat up his lead in the opening holes.
After making birdie at the first, Detry then bogeyed the second. However, a second birdie followed on the next hole before he began to find his rhythm.
He couldn't have been too comfortable, though, particularly as Hojgaard and Scottie Scheffler, in particular, had fast starts. The Dane birdied three of his first five holes, including a brilliant 61-foot effort at the fifth. As for Scheffler, he made four birdies in his first six to heap further pressure on the leader.
Unreal.Højgaard moves to three back of the lead @WMPhoenixOpen. https://t.co/eV41aYDPh3 pic.twitter.com/0WQPKzu7RsFebruary 9, 2025
Detry, though, was undeterred, and maintained his composure even when his lead was cut to three following Hojgaard's moment of magic at the fifth.
Hojgaard then bogeyed the sixth and seventh as his challenge went off the rails. At the same time Spieth began making a charge, moving to four off the lead with a 27-foot birdie putt at the seventh.
Just when Scheffler appeared poised to turn the screw, he missed a straightforward birdie putt at the ninth and, in truth, never recovered, eventually finishing T25.
At the 12th, Robert MacIntyre briefly entered the equation with his fourth birdie of the day to move four behind, but Detry continued on his impressive way, and made his third birdie at the 11th to restore the five-shot lead he began with.
By the 13th, Berger was the latest to ask questions of the leader, moving to three behind after his third birdie of the day, while at the 14th, Kim remained in the hunt after his birdie left him four back.
Berger then produced a brilliant chip-in to save par at the 14th, and he was joined by Kim in T2 soon after when he made his third successive birdie in a row at the 15th. It was to be his last of the day.
No pictures on the scorecard 💪@DanielBerger59 remains solo second with 4 holes to play.📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/6QNsFbGvJcFebruary 9, 2025
In any case, any hopes the pair had of closing the gap were about to be extinguished. After Detry birdied the 15th, he sent the crowd wild at the 16th, when he almost followed Emiliano Grillo's ace in the second round with one of his own. It landed a foot right, but it gave him another birdie. To strentgthen Detry's position, Berger made his first bogey at The Coliseum as a three-shot advantage became five.
Daniel Berger's first bogey at the 16th all but ended his chances
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Another birdie followed on the 17th for Detry, this time with a confident 21-foot putt that rattled the back of the cup before dropping. With a six-shot advantage, it had become a procession, and, after Berger missed his birdie chance at the 18th, Detry made his fourth in a row to complete his seven-shot victory.
Following his win, Detry reflected on his achievement, and admitted he felt it was his time to win on the PGA Tour on the 67th attempt. He said: "Deep inside of me, I kind of really trusted myself. I felt like I've been doing a lot of really good things in the past to put myself in that position, and I felt like I was kind of ready to win. So deep inside, I was kind of - yeah, this one nobody was going to take it away from me."
He added: "Winning has been a goal of mine for the last four or five years. Every year I'm like, this is the year I'm going to win, so this is amazing."
WM Phoenix Open Leaderboard
1 Thomas Detry (-24)
T2 Michael Kim, Daniel Berger (-17)
T4 Christiann Bezuidenhout, Jordan Spieth (-16)
T6 Justin Thomas, Will Chandler, Robert MacIntre (-15)
T9 Adam Hadwin, Taylor Moore, Maverick McNealy (-14)
T12 Min Woo Lee, Cameron Young, Rasmus Hojgaard (-13)
15 Sepp Straka (-12)
T16 Wyndham Clark, Kevin Yu, JT Poston, Denny McCarthy, Ben Silverman (-11)
Updates from...
Matt Cradock
Refresh
HELLO ALL
Good morning, afternoon or evening, depending on where you are in the world, and welcome to Golf Monthly's live coverage of the final round of the WM Phoenix Open.
As mentioned, Thomas Detry leads going into Sunday, with the Belgian holding a comfortable five stroke advantage as he searches for a first victory on the PGA Tour.
Amongst the chasing pack are Jordan Spieth and Daniel Berger, with World No.1 Scottie Scheffler also hoping for a final round charge as he looks to claim a third WM Phoenix Open title.
LEADERS ARE OFF
Getting their rounds underway, the final group of Detry, Rasmus Hojgaard and Berger have teed off at the first. In terms of their tee shots, Detry finds the left side of the fairway, whilst Hojgaard and Berger follow the 32-year-old and also find the short stuff.
Up ahead on the green, Jordan Spieth, Michael Kim and Maverick McNealy have all made par to begin their final day.
DETRY MAKES THE PERFECT START
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Detry's lead is now six shots at TPC Scottsdale! Perfect start from the former World Cup of Golf winner, who fires his approach to 12-feet and converts the left-to-right putt for an opening birdie.
Alongside Detry, Berger sees his birdie attempt slide by the right side, whilst Hojgaard's birdie putt also goes the same way. They trail their playing partner by six.
KIM AND SPIETH MOVE TO 14-UNDER
Playing the par 4 second, Michael Kim makes a great birdie following a wayward tee shot. Hitting from the wasteland, the American puts his second to 16-feet and converts to move to 14-under, five back of Detry.
Not to be outdone, Kim's playing partner, Spieth, also makes his birdie putt to get to 14-under. The pair are teeing off in front of Detry's group, so will need to carry on their fine start to put him under pressure.
BOGEY FOR DETRY
Finding the right fairway bunker with his tee shot at the second, Detry can only advance his approach into the greenside bunker, left of the green. It's a well played shot from the sand, but it rolls 15-feet by and Detry is unable to hole his par putt. He drops back to 18-under.
Within the group, Hojgaard holes a lovely snaky 25-footer for birdie to get to 14-under, whilst Berger is able to get up-and-down from the fringe to stay level-par for his day and 13-under for the tournament.
FAIRWAY FINDERS AT THE THIRD
Although he made a bogey at the second, it seems that Detry is very focused this afternoon. What's more, at the par 5 third, the Belgian finds the fairway and will have a chance to go for the par 5 in two.
Down the leaderboard, Scottie Scheffler has birdied two of his first four holes to get to 12-under, six back of Detry.
MACINTYRE GETS TO 13-UNDER
(Image credit: Getty Images)
MacIntyre is enjoying yet another strong week on the PGA Tour and, at the par 3 fourth, he finds just the third birdie of the day as the Scot holes a lengthy putt.
He is now 13-under, five back of Detry, who fires his approach at the par 5 third into the rough short of the green. It's on the correct side though, so should be a good chance to make birdie.
BIRDIES FLYING IN
Although Scheffler is well back of the leaders, it wouldn't be surprising to see the World No.1 contend today! At the par 4 fifth, he fires in a laser-like iron to around six-feet, with the birdie putt dropping to get him to 13-under.
Back in the final group, Detry plays his chip shot past the hole but, from 15-feet, he converts for birdie and moves back to 19-under. There's even better news for the Belgian, as both Hojgaard and Berger fail to find their birdies. Detry's lead is now five.
KIM AND SPIETH BOGEY
The par 3 fourth is playing as one of the toughest holes today and both Kim and Spieth fall back to 13-under-par after both make bogeys. It now means Hojgaard has solo second at 14-under.
Speaking of Hojgaard, the Dane fires an impressive approach to around 15-feet, with Detry pulling his approach left and also finding the green, albeit a long way away. Last up is Berger, whose 8-iron from 180-yards also finds the putting surface, slightly closer than Hojgaard's.
SCHEFFLER AND HOJGAARD ON A CHARGE
Here he comes... The World No.1 has started hot this Sunday and, at the par 4 sixth, Scheffler puts his second to eight-feet. Faced with a straight forward putt, it never looks anywhere else as the American makes a fourth birdie in six holes to get to 14-under.
Like Scheffler, Hojgaard will need to go low to challenge and, at the par 3 fourth, the 23-year-old makes just the fourth birdie of the day there, rolling in a 12-footer. In the group, Detry and Berger both two-putt for pars.
After bogeying the fourth, Spieth rolls in a gorgeous birdie putt to get back to 14-under at the par 4 fifth. He is now five back of Detry.
In the final group, Hojgaard has carved his tee shot right and is resting up against a metal fence. It's unclear as to what options he has yet. Up next is Detry, who pulls his drive left and into the wasteland, with Berger joining his playing partner in the desert.
BIG BREAK FOR HOJGAARD
After pushing his tee shot right Hojgaard is far enough away from the fence to hit a full shot. The Dane is forced to wait, though, as Berger and Detry are up first.
Shaping his shot round the tree, Berger goes slightly long of the green. In Detry's world, he plays a good shot from the rough that doesn't spin. He will have a long two-putt coming up. Finally it's Hojgaard's turn and, just left of the fence, he is able to play a wedge on to the green, which is again some distance away from the hole.
Unreal.Højgaard moves to three back of the lead @WMPhoenixOpen. https://t.co/eV41aYDPh3 pic.twitter.com/0WQPKzu7RsFebruary 9, 2025
AWESOME FROM RASMUS
At the fifth, Rasmus Hojgaard has just drained a 61 ft 6 in birdie putt! That puts serious pressure on Thomas Detry at the top of the leaderboard, with his lead now reduced to three...
🚨💣 WOAH. Rasmus Hojgaard from 61ft for birdie at the fifth!He gets to 3 back. 👀 pic.twitter.com/uHxeaYWfCZFebruary 9, 2025
PLENTY TO THINK ABOUT FOR DETRY
Even with a three-shot lead, this is a serious test for Detry, who is looking for his maiden PGA Tour win. He's had a reasonable start to the day, one-under after his first six, but Rasmus Hojgaard has started brilliantly with three birdies in his first five holes. And then there's the small matter of World No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who is four-under through seven.
BREATHING SPACE FOR DETRY
That will be a relief for the Belgian. Just when Rasmus Hojgaard looked like seriously threatening his grip at the top of the leaderboard, the Dane has made his first bogey of the day at the sixth. He shouldn't get too comfy, though, as Jordan Spieth is now just four behind after completing a 27-foot birdie putt at the seventh.
MISTAKE FROM SCOTTIE!
With 110 yards to go at the par-4 ninth, Scottie Scheffler got within five feet with his second shot. That gives him a great chance of his fifth birdie of the day to stay well in contention with nine to play... and he misses! That's a shock, and it means he's still five behind Thomas Detry.
PLENTY AT STAKE
There are some potentially great stories to emerge here. Detry and Hojgaard are looking for their first PGA Tour wins, then there's Daniel Berger five behind, who last won on the PGA Tour four years ago. Michael Kim's also in the mix and he last won on the PGA Tour seven years ago. Meanwhile, it's been almost three years since Jordan Spieth's last win. Then there's Scheffler, who looks like winning almost every time he sets foot on a course.
While Detry is still in the driving seat, he's just hit a tree off his tee shot at the eighth, which could present a problem...
BRILLIANT FROM DETRY
Thomas Detry makes a fantastic recovery from 174 yards with his second shot at the eighth. With a tree for company, just in front and to the left of him, he finds the green to leave a birdie opportunity. If he's nervous about closing out his first PGA Tour win, it's not showing yet.
The birdie chance misses right, but he should make par.
HEAVY GOING FOR HOJGAARD
After three birdies in his first five holes, Rasmus Hojgaard's challenge seems to have run out of steam a bit. He bogeyed the sixth and seventh and while he arrested the slide with par at the eighth, it came after a poor misread with his birdie putt that slid alarmingly off target to the left.
DETRY IN CONTROL
Thomas Detry is doing what he needs to do here. Facing a long birdie putt on the ninth from the edge of the green, he rolls it to within a foot. Impressive composure from the Belgian.
Moments later, Daniel Berger makes his second birdie of the day at the same hole to move into a tie for second with Jordan Spieth.
NOT QUITE FOR SPIETH
At the 11th, Jordan Spieth has a 10-foot putt for birdie and the chance to move within three of the leader. It appears to be heading for the hole before breaking left at the last moment. It's a tap-in for par but he'll see that as a missed opportunity.
SLIP-UPS FROM THE CHASING PACK
Thomas Detry continues to go along nicely, but he's getting a helping hand from many in the chasing pack. Hojgaard is now six behind the Belgian, while Scottie Scheffler is almost, but not quite, at the "running out of holes" stage facing a tricky par putt on the 12th. Jordan Spieth, four behind, has also just sent his tee shot at the 11th way over to the right near some fans.
And Scheffler's par putt misses left so he drops back to -13, six behind Detry.
SPIETH DOING SPIETH THINGS
After his wayward tee shot at the 11th, Jordan Spieth is contemplating some shrubbery and how on earth he can find a safe route out of it for his ball, which sits inches to the right.
Spieth is not exactly a stranger to getting into - and out of - tricky situations, and this time, he has his putter in his hand before digging it out playing left-handed, almost troubling another shrub before getting it somewhat safe, albeit not yet on the fairway and in the desert. He then follows it with a truly beautiful effort from 123 yards onto the green to leave a reasonable par chance.
Naturally, he then completes his par putt to remain well and truly in contention. Never change, Jordan.
Jordan Spieth just made par from here. pic.twitter.com/9Gz6MXizIjFebruary 9, 2025
MACINTYRE ON THE MOVE
Robert MacIntyre is now firmly in the running after a birdie at the 12th - his fourth of the day. That moves him into a tie for second, four off Detry.
Straight after, at the 11th, Detry then makes a birdie to restore the five-shot lead he had at the start of the day.
Soon after, Scottie Scheffler makes his second successive bogey at the 13th, and now he's eight behind. Surely it's all over for the World No.1?
CLOSE FROM DETRY
Another birdie chance for the leader, this time at the 12th. Surely if this goes in it'll be as good as Detry's title. It tickles the lip of the cup but misses a touch right. Just a minute later, Daniel Berger moves into outright second with a birdie at the same hole, four behind Detry.
MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR SPIETH
(Image credit: Getty Images)
At the par-5 13th, Jordan Spieth again finds the native area left of the fairway, before reaching the safety of the fairway with his second. His next shot then reaches the green to leave a look for birdie. He needs it, as he has to claw back five on leader Thomas Detry with opportunities beginning to run out.
Spieth is 11 feet from the hole, and his effort misses left by a whisker.
Further along, Adam Hadwin gets the crowd going at the 16th with a possible ace that stops just a foot or so right of the hole.
FROM BAD TO WORSE FOR SCHEFFLER
(Image credit: Getty Images)
It's officially an "off" afternoon for Scottie Scheffler. After starting the final round brilliantly with four early birdies, he's fallen off the pace dramatically, and now he's found the water with his second shot at the 15th. Back to the drawing board before next week's Genesis Invitational for the World No.1.
CHANCES GO BEGGING FOR DETRY
At the 13th, Detry has a 52-foot eagle putt. It's too far left and goes a little too far beyond to leave a comfortable birdie putt. He has around 10 feet to move to 21-under, and he misses. He'll take a par but that could have all but put this one to bed.
BERGER COOKING
Daniel Berger is applying the pressure on leader Thomas Detry
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Is Daniel Berger about to give something for Thomas Detry to think about? It looks like it, as he completes a birdie at the 13th to close the gap to just three. This isn't done and dusted for Detry yet.
Another birdie for Michael Kim at the 14th leaves him four back.
BERGER CHIPS IN!
From a deep greenside bunker on the 14th, Daniel Berger struggles. The ball makes it out, but it thinks about rolling back in before staying on the bank. It still leaves a chip-in chance for par and... he does it! That is brilliant from Detry's closest challenger. It leaves him just three behind.
No pictures on the scorecard 💪@DanielBerger59 remains solo second with 4 holes to play.📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/6QNsFbGvJcFebruary 9, 2025
BRILLIANT FINISH FROM JT
What a way to finish for Justin Thomas! At the 18th, he's made a walk-off eagle from the fairway, 103 yards out, to jump up the leaderboard to T4, level with his friend Jordan Spieth.
Walk-off eagle for @JustinThomas34!JT hoops it from 102 yards 🦅 pic.twitter.com/UbINFpSrytFebruary 9, 2025
KIM ON SONG
Michael Kim is not giving up without a fight. A beautifully judged eagle attempt at the 15th from off the green narrowly misses, but he'll take a birdie to join Daniel Berger at 17-under, three behind the leader. That's his third successive birdie.
Then, at the 14th, Jordan Spieth's birdie putt comes up a hair's breadth short. That's his eighth successive par and why he likely won't be lifting the trophy.
ANYTHING YOU CAN DO...
Daniel Berger makes his fifth birdie of the day at the 15th to move to within two of Thomas Detry at the top. How will the Belgian respond? With his own birdie to restore his three-stroke lead. Detry has been admirably consistent under pressure all day.
TOP STUFF FROM CHANDLER
Will Chandler deserves loads of credit too. He's T4 with one hole to play after Monday qualifying. Talk about making the most of his chance. It's only his third PGA Tour start, too.
DETRY CLOSING IN
(Image credit: Getty Images)
The top two are at the iconic 16th, The Coliseum. Berger is first to go and, with the crowd baying for an ace, his effort lands beyond the green. Next, it's Detry. It's desperately close and finishes a foot right of the hole! That'll be a birdie and what a time to get it!
BERGER SLIP LEAVES DETRY ON VERGE OF GLORY
Berger fails to recover from his tee shot at the 16th, sending his second the other side of the hole. He then misses his par putt and settles for a very unwanted bogey. Moments later, Detry completes the formalities of his birdie putt and his three-shot lead goes to five shots in the blink of an eye.
THIRD SUCCESSIVE BIRDIE FOR DETRY LEAVES HIM ON THE BRINK!
From his tee shot, Daniel Berger finds himself the wrong side of the water on the 17th, but recovers well enough to reach the green with his second.
Back on the fairway, Thomas Detry chips onto the green, but it just keeps on going, so that'll leave a tricky birdie putt. Not that he'll be too worried about that with a five-stroke lead.
Berger's first to go, but he's 45 feet from the hole. The speed is good but it's right. He'll likely finish with par. Now Detry. He's been a model of composure all afternoon, and he does it again! He moves to 23-under, six clear with one to play!
DETRY BEGINS COMPLETING THE FORMALITIES
On the 18th, Detry's tee shot finds the middle of the fairway. Berger, who is now merely playing for the chance to finish runner-up, is equally assured off the tee.
Up ahead, Jordan Spieth, in only his second tournament since wrist surgery, can be happy with his lot too. He's T4.
DETRY WINS IT IN STYLE!
Detry and Berger find the middle of the green with their second shots. The chance of a fourth successive birdie for Detry is very much on. Hojgaard, now down in 14th after a promising start to the day, joins the other two in the final group within realistic birdie range.
With throngs of fans crowding around the 18th, Berger goes first, but it comes up just short and he finishes with par at -17. Now it's Hojgaard, who finishes the day beautifully, with an assured putt for birdie.
That leaves the stage set for Detry to complete the 2025 WM Phoenix Open. Can he make yet another birdie? It's never in doubt. What a win for the Belgian who claims his maiden PGA Tour title!
