How a stern ‘telling off’ from a golf legend helped one PGA Tour champion finally get over the line

Thomas Detry says he had a bit of a rollicking from Gary Player – and just five starts later he was a PGA Tour winner at last…

Sometimes all that’s required is a little tough love. That’s what seemed to do the trick for Thomas Detry, anyway. 

The Belgian had played in 63 PGA Tour events before getting a “telling off” from Gary Player at the backend of 2024 about his inability to get over the line and duly made the breakthrough just five starts later at the WM Phoenix Open.

Speaking to Gary Williams on the 5 Clubs podcast, Detry said: “I’m going to take it back to a couple of months ago, I was in Sun City in South Africa. I played nine holes with Gary Player. We didn’t have a heated [conversation], I have huge respect for Gary, he’s incredible. He’s one of the biggest names in the game.

“He won I don’t know how many times. One of the biggest athletes in South Africa. We had a conversation, he was just wondering why I hadn’t won. 

“It was almost kind of telling me off why I hadn’t won. I was kind of telling him, I think there’s a bit of genetics in that sense that to some players, it comes easier. And to other players, they just have to work harder.

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“He obviously asks you all these questions: ‘Do you work out, Thomas? Do you do this, do you do that?’ I’m like, ‘Yes, I do work out. I do all these things. I do all that.’ It was pretty fun.

“We were not on the same page. He was saying, ‘You need to love it in your heart, you need to be a winner.’ I was like, ‘Yes I know that. I do really want to win a golf tournament and this is what my dreams are made of.’ But I do think not to blame it on me, or not to say that I’m just unlucky, but it took me a little bit more hard work to get there than some other people.

“And I think it’s part of genetics, I really do.”

Detry didn’t so much get over the line as nearly lap the field at TPC Scottsdale. Rounds of 66, 64, 65, and 65 saw him beat Michael Kim and Daniel Berger to the title by seven shots, underlining the talent he possesses.

However, at 32, it has taken him longer than many expected for him to enter the winner’s circle. 

Detry is adamant that winning naturally just comes easier to certain players and pointed to Ludvig Aberg as an example.

The Swede has made a remarkable rise through the ranks since turning pro in 2023. The 25-year-old won the DP World Tour’s European Masters in 2023 to convince Luke Donald he merited a captain’s pick for the Ryder Cup later that same month.

He was part of a remarkable European effort to reclaim the famous gold trophy at Marco Simone Golf Club and has already racked up two PGA Tour titles in his short career and a second-place finish on his Master debut last year.

Now the world No. 4, Aberg will be fancied by many to go on and add a major to his roll of honour before long.

“Everything comes a little bit easier to him,” Detry added. “He’s obviously very hardworking, but maybe those winning moments will come a little bit easier for some people than others.”