Berliner Boersenzeitung - Belgium's Detry marches to first PGA Tour title at Phoenix Open

"It's incredible. It's what dreams are made of," said Detry, who had two runner-up finishes in 65 prior starts, after he powered to a 24-under total of 260 at TPC Scottsdale.

He kept his cool amid the raucous atmosphere as a handful of challengers -- including three-time major winner Jordan Spieth and world number one Scottie Scheffler -- tried and failed to make inroads on his five-shot overnight lead.

American Daniel Berger came the closest, briefly pulling within two strokes before a costly bogey at the par-three 16th.

It was Berger's lone bogey of the day after five birdies, his four-under 67 leaving him tied for second on 267 with American Michael Kim, who also had five birdies in a 67.

By the time Kim was making his late move, Detry was on the march. After two birdies and a bogey in his first three holes the 32-year-old Belgian put on a back-nine clinic starting with a nine-foot birdie at the 11th.

A seven-foot birdie at the par-five 15th launched his bravura finish. At 16, the par-three ringed by multi-story hospitality suites, he thrilled some 20,000 fans with a tee shot that threatened the pin and left him little more than a foot for birdie.

"Considering the circumstances one of the best shots of the week and of my life, definitely," he said.

A 21-footer at the 17th and a 10-foot birdie at 18 rounded off the virtuoso performance.

"It's pretty special," Detry said. "I've given myself plenty of chances in the past and never been able to conclude. Being able to put a statement out like that is pretty incredible. I am just over the moon, so happy."

Berger, who won the most recent of his four titles at Pebble Beach in 2021, took off 18 months after the 2022 US Open as he battled debilitating back pain.

- 'Big progress week' -

He was excited to play his way into next week's elite signature event, the Genesis Invitational, relocated this year to Torrey Pines from Riviera Country Club because of the Los Angeles wildfires.

"I drove it well all week and I ride to just do my best to put pressure on (Detry)," Berger said. "But every time I felt like I made a birdie he made one back."

Spieth, making just his second start since wrist surgery in August, had four birdies and a three-putt bogey in his three-under 68 that left him tied for fourth on 268 with South Africa's Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who posted a 66.

"All in all, it was a big progress week for me," Spieth said. "I didn't feel like this was a one-off. It felt like this is just trending the right direction."

Scheffler, making his second start since suffering a puncture wound in his hand in a Christmas cooking accident, made an early move with four birdies in the first six holes. But his challenge faded with bogeys at 12, 13 and 16 before a double-bogey at the last.

(F.Schuster--BBZ)