Meet the golfer who climbed 1,516 world ranking places in 2016

Every now and then a golfer comes along where the same name pops up when asking those in the know for ‘one to watch’. In recent months Thomas Detry, more often than not, is that person.

The old, high street bookmaker tends to be the shrewdest of judges and they have him down as a better chance this week in Dubai than a host of Tour winners including Graeme Storm and David Horsey.

Go back a year and only the Belgian fan or American college cognoscenti would be familiar with the name Thomas Detry. There’s a chance that you’ve never heard of Detry but you will do at some point this season. In his first start on the main Tour he finished in third down in South Africa last December.

Detry is that rare breed of golfer in that he is Belgian – the nation that gave us Flory Van Donck, a putting genius who had eight top 10s in the Open Championship in the 1950s – but, unlike his countrymen Nicolas Colsaerts and Thomas Pieters, he is not easily labelled as a ‘Belgian Bomber’. In his own words ‘I hit it steady’. This season Detry is a middle-of-the-road 295 yards off the tee. 

You climbed 1516 places on the world rankings on 2016 so presumably you enjoyed a pretty good year?

Yeah, it was pretty good, I got my degree, a first win on the Challenge Tour, my card for the European Tour and jumped up all that way on the rankings.

Why did you finish school at the University of Illinois, your big friend Thomas Pieters left before his senior year?

If at a good school, which Illinois is, you will play so many good courses with perfect facilities. I also didn’t think I was ready for pro life and you never know what’s going to happen in life so getting degree was very important.

After four years I felt ready for the next level.

What level of courses did you get to play while a student?

We were based south of Chicago so got to play Medinah and Olympia Fields a bit. I also remember Southern Highlands in Vegas as being really cool and there were lots in Florida, Isleworth and Lake Nona, which were almost at PGA Tour quality.

What is a typical college day like?

We would have workouts three times a week from six in the morning, then classes at around 8 and in the afternoon play golf or practise. And then you would have to study at night so you are very busy. On top of that there was a lot of travel so you would miss classes and have to catch up.

If you weren’t a golfer what do you think you would have done?

I did management and entrepreneurship so probably start my own business, maybe finance. 

How close did you get to Augusta?

I have never played Augusta but we played Augusta University every year and they hosted an event the weekend before the Masters and then we would go on the Monday.

It is amazing, you get on the property and everything is perfect and it exceeds every expectation you have. You could never realise the slopes, the drop at the 10^th or the slope up to the 18^th.

What made you choose Illinois?

It is a very good school and has a good business course, the facilities are great and the coach, Mike Small, still helps me. He was like my dad over there, he played on the PGA Tour and a few events on the Champions Tour. I’ve not seen him for a while but we stay in touch through texts and he’ll send me message of encouragement.

And obviously Thomas Pieters was there and so it was fun to know someone that you could trust on the other side of the world.

And on August 28 2016 you both won, you on the Challenge Tour and Thomas in Denmark on the European Tour, what was that like?

That was such a cool week, Thomas shot 62 on the first day playing with the Ryder Cup captain and then I shot a 12-under 60 at Heythrop Park. My irons were all going close and the putts were all dropping in.

We were texting each other during the tournament and on the Saturday night we knew could do something special. On the Sunday we then both won 30 minutes apart.

How do you keep your foot on the accelerator after shooting a 60?

It is tempting to look forward and, however much you try not to, you are going to think about the future and lifting the trophy, that’s going to happen, but I managed to stay in the present. It is tough to do but I did it pretty well.

I stayed pretty comfortable, kept hitting it close, making the putts and won by 12 on 29 under.

How big is golf in Belgium?

It is getting better in terms of exposure, there is still too much of a private vibe and it is only for a small part of the population but it is going in the right direction. Hopefully we will get the Belgium Open back soon.

I played field hockey and a lot of tennis growing up but then had to decide which sport to concentrate on and so I quit hockey to focus on golf.

The Challenge Tour is supposed to be a hard school to attend, you only joined it in June and, five months later, had your card?

I had no expectations, I finished my degree, we had the NCAA Finals and I flew straight back for my first pro event in Belgium. I knew I was playing well and I started 67-67 and I got a lot of confidence from that. I was sixth and that top 10 got me into the St Omer the following week.

There I finished second and I suddenly thought I can win out here, it wouldn’t be easy but I knew I could do it. From there I wasn’t relying on invites and had a status for every event.

You didn’t miss a cut up until the win at the Bridgestone Challenge?

In the middle of season I was thinking about winning too much and getting too hard on yourself. If I wasn’t three under after nine I would be mad at myself so there was a little dip but after the win I got back to thinking better.

Describe your game?

Steady, I don’t hit it as far as Thomas or Colsaerts but I’m stead and have a strong short game. I rarely shoot high numbers and score well when the putter is hot.

What was it like watching one of your best mates play in a Ryder Cup?

It was insane, I thought Thomas would do pretty well but it was amazing and so motivating. I really wanted to be out there with him.

You knew how good he is but to come out that fast. He had won two events in a row in 2015 so he has done some amazing things but to win four points was incredible.

You are also both part of the Excel Sports management group along with some other pretty big names?

They represent some of the best players, they are a huge management company but don’t have a ton of players, but they are of a high quality.

I had dinner with Justin Rose in Hong Kong and was able to pick his brains like how to deal with crowds and still play your best and keep your focus in the final round of a US Open or an Olympics.

So what are your goals?

I’ve got three; keep my card, get used to the courses and lifestyle and, finally, to win.