THE PEOPLE’S OPEN TPC SCOTTSDALE’S WASTE MANAGEMENT OPEN

FEBRUARY 3-9, 2025, OVER A MILLION FANS APPLAUDED BELGIUM’S THOMAS DETRY’S, BRILLANT VICTORY -24!

Cuvee 2025 dazzled all – players and fans alike – with sunny weather, brilliant new offerings from stands and walkways to hospitality offerings giving fans new viewing spots and accesses, fun plus more food.  Players were pleased with easy movement from the new bridges, accesses facilitating practice and play. The Thunderbirds who manage the world’s largest golf tournament spent millions in infrastructure improvements and facilities to better host the players while welcoming the thousands of fans who queue from midnight to gain access to the famed par-3 16^th Hole “Coliseum”.

Over 1100 feet  of elevated walkways were added for players and caddies to ease passage through the crowds plus to accelerate play. Additionally, a new entrance was opened; new stands and refreshment sites on key course sites added.  The 16^th  hole – Coliseum – was unchanged in its impressive structure.  Strict “no throwing” of bottles, cups, etc stipulated, enforced. Security for players and fans was primary everywhere… fun, roars, and excitement continued safely non-stop til late daily and into the night at the famed “Birds Nest” adjacent to the course.

Detry’s masterful play was on display teeing off with a five-shot lead Sunday over the chasing pack of Jordan Spieth, Daniel Berger, Michael Kim.  He cruised with only one small error. At the famed 16^th, a magnificient nine-iron from 180 yds to 16 inches for a kick-in birdie shut out all chasers!  For added glory, he birdied both the 17^th and 18^th to a roaring welcome by all the length of the 18th -24- a impressive seven shot victory over Kim and Berger, not even World No 1 Scheffler has won on Tour by that margin. Detry’s  only Challenge Tour Victory in 2016 was by 12 shots; breaking Brooks Koepka’s previous victory margin record by two strokes.

Smiling, 32 year-old Detry asserted, “I think the adrenaline kind of took over a little bit. I didn’t realize it was that close on 16.” Detry’s wife with their two young children waited excitedly at the 18^th…finally a PGA Tour victory. Detry is the first Belgian to win a PGA Tour event.  He starred playing for the University of Illinois, eventually graduating to  the PGA Tour plus playing on the DP World Tour. Detry’s top iron play and he led the field in approach at TPC Scottsdale, obviously brought smiles to European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald as well as his scoring abilities while managing the rowdy, noisy boisterous crowds at The People’s Open. “I feel like the atmosphere at Bethpage would be pretty similar to this, especially for me as a European. Lots of people shouting at me,” laughed Detry.   “Ryder Cup is something that I really want to be a part of. I don’t want to say it’s a goal. I’ve been watching the Ryder Cup now on TV every Cup, and being part of it would definitely be a dream. I want to reach the Tour Championship and DP World’s Race to Dubai finale.”  With his brilliant first PGA Tour W, now Detry wants to win more.

 Sharing with GolfStars Detry felt, “If I keep playing well,  keep putting myself in contention,  hopefully I’ll improve in these situations. I’ll get to my goals of Tour Championship, DP Finale, maybe other events too like Ryder Cup. I’m not getting over-excited. There’s still lots of golf to be played.” Meditation has helped in his preparation, thanks to his wife’s urging, plus doing more preparation with ice baths more pre-match prep.

Fans were enthusiastic about Spieth’s return after wrist surgery, as well as Berger’s being back in the fray at the top. Scheffler surprisingly didn’t manage to add another WMO title with some inconsistant play. Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo electrified about 20,000 fans at the par-3 16^th “the Loudest Hole in Golf” with his “slam-dunk” hole-in-one  bringing the total to 12; fans respected generally the new rules in celebration !