In a field packed with the who’s who of the Golf, an unlikely name came to the top. While it seems to have become the norm on the PGA Tour this season—Chris Kirk, Grayson Murray, Nick Dunlap, and Matthieu Pavon were all long shots—Thomas Detry leading the first round is more fitting after his French neighbor Pavon’s clutch win at the Farmers Insurance Open. 

Both Pavon and Detry have plied their trade at their home circuit for years before traveling Stateside. For the Belgian, however, a victory has been hard to come by on both sides of the Atlantic. But the 31-year-old showed much promise at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, his first Signature event of the calendar year. How has he performed in his previous outings?

Who is Thomas Detry?

Thomas Detry earned his European Tour Card in 2016. Detry, a close friend of LIV Golf Pro Thomas Pieters, has 20 top-10 finishes from his 152 starts on the European Tour. Last year, the Belgian star made three top-ten finishes on the PGA Tour in addition to coming in the top 25 at ten events. 

Detry came close to noticing his first Stateside victory at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship in October 2022, before coming a close second to Irishman Seamus Power. What has held him back from winning on the Tour? 

Asked about it, the Belgian gives off a wry laugh. “It’s a good question,” Detry admits. “I tend to, maybe, question myself too much. I tend to have a lot of thoughts rushing to my brains sometimes on Sundays,” the Belgian adds thoughtfully in the media interaction after the second round at Pebble Beach. 

Detry, though, is trying to work on his mind, improve his focus, and learn to trust his game. The results are starting to show. The 2016 Bridgestone Challenge winner has clung to his lead despite threats from World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and rising star Ludvig Aberg. 

How has Detry performed at Pebble Beach?

Thomas Detry started attacking the course late in the first round. Triggering off with three consecutive birdies on the front nine, the Belgian went on to scorch the field to cap off a brilliant 9-under 63 that put him ahead of Patrick Cantlay on Thursday. 

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