SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — In an impressive display during the second round of the Phoenix Open, Thomas Detry came close to hitting a hole-in-one on the par-3 16th hole and finished with a notable 7-under 64, placing him in a commanding two-shot lead.
Detry showcased his exceptional skills with eight birdies against just one bogey, achieving a total score of 12 under amid flawless weather conditions at TPC Scottsdale. Following him, Michael Kim delivered a stunning bogey-free round of 63, bringing his total to 10 under, while Alex Smalley managed a strong 65 to match Kim.
Jordan Spieth made his presence felt in the tournament as well, securing eagles on holes 13 and 15 while carding a 65 that elevated him to a total of 9 under. This marks his second tournament since undergoing wrist surgery in the offseason. Meanwhile, notable players such as three-time PGA Tour winner Tom Kim and Christiaan Bezuidenhout also reached 9 under after shooting 66.
Argentinian golfer Emiliano Grillo was the highlight of the day, thrilling the crowd with an incredible hole-in-one on the famously boisterous par-3 16th, resulting in the only beer shower of the day. Efforts by tournament officials to discourage fans from throwing drinks at the stadium hole proved ineffective after Grillo’s spectacular shot triggered joyful celebrations.
Justin Thomas nearly matched Grillo’s excitement with a near-perfect shot on No. 16, landing just 3 feet from the hole during his round of 68, which brought his total score to 8 under.
Top-ranked player Scottie Scheffler accomplished a bogey-free 66, lifting him to a total of 7 under after a tumultuous opening round, which followed an unfortunate incident where he suffered a puncture wound while preparing Christmas dinner.
The two-time Belgian Olympian, Detry, had initially posted a 66 in the opening round. He began his second round with three birdies on the front nine, including a strong finish on No. 9 that set the tone for a streak of three consecutive birdies. Despite a bogey on the challenging 14th hole, he added another birdie, hitting to just 2 feet on 16.
Spieth had a rocky time last week at Pebble Beach, finishing tied for 69th, but rebounded, scrambling successfully for tough shots and recording a score of 68 in the first round. In his second round, he managed one birdie on the front before impressively sinking eagle putts from 5 and 11 feet on par-5 holes, adding another birdie on No. 17 after a strategic shot just beyond the short par 4.
After missing the cut at Torrey Pines, Smalley bounced back with a 67 in the opening round and followed that with a solid performance in the second round, where he made four birdies over a five-hole stretch starting at No. 2. The 28-year-old American celebrated a 6-foot eagle putt on the par-5 13th, but a mishap at the 15th with a water hazard led to a bogey.
Kim, the winner of the 2018 John Deere Classic, had struggled at the season’s beginning, missing the cut in two of his first three tournaments. At TPC Scottsdale, however, he found his rhythm, improving his score to 69 in the opening round and surging up the leaderboard with four consecutive birdies, wrapping up with a remarkable 6-under 30 on the back nine.
