Thomas Detry determined to use positive start to 2018 to break into top 50 in the world

Matt Jones - Editor 18:51 20/01/2018
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Thomas Detry believes the world’s top 50 is within is reach in 2018, and you wouldn’t rule out the young Belgian judging him on his scintillating start to the year in Abu Dhabi.

    Detry rocketed into contention at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Saturday after a scorching eight under par 64 – bettered all weekend only by Matt Fitzpatrick’s brilliant 63 – which put him in a three-way tie for sixth on -14 under, three shots off the lead.

    It’s surprising to discover the fresh-faced Uccle native is actually already 25. But he’s only just starting his second year on the European Tour and, in only 19 months since turning professional, has climbed from 1,225th to 211th.

    He reached his zenith of 142nd last September, but is confident better is to come this season.
    “I definitely want to crack the top 100, and I think that’s very doable,” said Detry, tied in sixth with Englishmen Andrew Johnston and Chris Paisley.

    “I can easily do it. That will be a good start, then I think the top 50 is within reach too, but we’ll start with the top 100.”

    Rounds like the one he posted on moving day at Abu Dhabi Golf Club – Detry holed eight birdies in a bogey-free effort – prove to him that he is capable of keeping regular company with the game’s elite.

    “I’ve had a few good rounds and it’s good to have one as low as that at the start of the year as well. It gives me confidence and proves I’m good enough to be out here,” he said, adding he’s at an age where “it’s time” to start making good on his vows, even though he started later in the professional ranks than many of his peers.

    “I’m only starting my second season on tour, so I’m not a rookie. Everything kind of went really fast. It’s not even been two years since I turned pro, June 2016, so I feel like I have a lot of learning to do, but I’m getting better and things are going well.”

    Detry heads into the final day looking to wrestle the title away from compatriot Thomas Pieters, who shares the lead with England’s Ross Fisher.

    Both players are comfortably inside the top 50, as is world number 11 Rory McIlroy, in third place. Even Johnston and Paisley – who won in South Africa last week while Detry missed the cut – are 25 and 90 places respectively above him.

    But Detry believes pressure exists, wherever you find yourself in the rankings.

    “Maybe a little bit,” he says when asked if his can help him fly under the radar Saturday.

    “I don’t think the ranking makes a massive difference. The pressure is still there but not that much. It’s just an average tournament even though I’m wherever I am in the world. It’s just the same as all the others.”

    Playing his way into form at the right time with yesterday’s round is something that has pleased Detry, again proving he is making progress.

    He added: “Yeah, hot day, hot round, that’s a good point. There was a lot of stress free golf. I played very well off the tee, hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens, which you have to do out here. It was some really solid golf. I’m excited for tomorrow.

    “It’s the perfect way to get back in the pack. I had a bit of a slow first round but still managed to shoot under par. Friday was good too and I shot a low round today to give myself a chance. I did it a few times last year so it gives me another chance to win a tournament.”

    Detry admitted he worked hard in the off-season in a bid to make a real impact in 2018, and he is thankful to have had had some assistance from Pieters and fellow Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts.

    “I went to a training camp in southern France with the Belgian team, Nicolas Colsaerts, Thomas Pieters and my coaches, that was quite nice,” he said.

    “I came back, went skiing, had some proper time off then last week going to South Africa was very useful, even though I missed the cut. I got my rhythm going and got a feel for the golf course.”

    Recommended