Belgium’s Thomas Detry emphatically claimed the first PGA Tour win of his career with a seven-shot triumph at the WM Phoenix Open.
Finishing the tournament on 24-under par, Detry is the first Belgian to win on the tour.
American duo Michael Kim and Daniel Berger both shot final-round 67s to finish tied second on 17-under.
The only time Detry appeared under slight pressure was when Berger holed his fifth birdie of the round at the 15th to fleetingly reduce the lead down to just two shots.
But Detry underlined his confidence by following Berger in for his own birdie before effectively settling the contest when a stunning approach to the par-three 16th set up a tap-in birdie. In fact, the PGA Tour’s newest winner birdied the final three holes of the tournament.
A jubilant Detry celebrated on the 18th green with his two children and wife, Sarah, before being soaked in champagne by an awaiting Matt Wallace, who had finished his week at six under after a fine four-under finale.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout (66) and Jordan Spieth (68) finished one further shot back on 16-under.
Justin Thomas chipped in from 102 yards for eagle at the last – a shot that propelled him into a tie for sixth alongside fellow American Will Chandler and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre.
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler had started the day eight back on Detry and briefly threatened to make a run at his first title of the year as he went four-under through the first six holes.
But the birdies dried up for the Masters champion thereafter and, once onto the back nine, his round uncharacteristically fell apart as bogeys on the 12th, 13th and 16th were followed by a double bogey on the par-four last.
Scheffler shot five over for the back nine, which dropped him back to one-over for the round and a tie for 25th place – his first finish outside the top 20 since last June’s US Open.
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Scheffler also found water at the par-five 15th after hooking his second shot, although at least scrambled after a penalty drop to save par with a fine up and down.
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