Thomas Detry delivered a sensational performance at TPC Scottsdale on Saturday, firing seven birdies en route to a six-under 65, extending his lead to five strokes heading into the final round of the Phoenix Open. The Belgian sits atop the leaderboard at 18-under-par (195) as he chases his maiden PGA Tour victory.
“I’m playing some great golf,” Detry said confidently. “I kind of feel like I’m ready to handle Sunday properly now.”
Detry, who started the day with a two-shot lead, wasted no time building momentum with birdies on the first, third, fourth, and fifth holes. Despite a brief stumble with a three-putt bogey on the seventh, he rebounded with a birdie at the eighth and added two more on 14 and 17. His clutch 18-foot par save on the final hole capped off a near-flawless round.
Chasing Detry is a formidable group, including three-time major winner Jordan Spieth, who carded a four-under 67. Spieth, still regaining form after wrist surgery, remains bogey-free this week and emphasized the importance of his gritty par save on the 18th:
“I knew I hadn’t made a bogey in a while, so I wanted to keep that streak alive.”
Spieth is tied at 13-under (200) with Rasmus Hojgaard (65), Daniel Berger (66), and Michael Kim (68). Hojgaard briefly closed the gap with a dazzling eagle on 13, but a costly double bogey on 15 after finding water slowed his charge.
Meanwhile, Maverick McNealy surged up the leaderboard with a bogey-free 63, matching the tournament’s low round and sitting solo at 14-under (201). As Detry looks to seal the deal on Sunday, he’ll need to fend off a chasing pack full of proven winners. “I was trusting my game and my ball flight,” Detry reflected. “Now it’s about staying in the moment and finishing strong.”
