Detry grabs Phoenix Open lead

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Thomas Detry posted eight birdies in a seven-under-par 64 on Friday to power to a two-stroke lead over Alex Smalley and Michael Kim midway through the US PGA Tour Phoenix Open.

Belgium’s Detry, chasing a first US tour title, bounced back from his only bogey of the day at the 14th with birdies at the 16th and 17th to card a 64 for a 12-under total of 130.

The world No. 58 got his day off to a flying start when he returned to birdie his final hole of the first round after darkness stranded a handful of players on the course on Thursday.

After birdies at the second and fifth, he rolled in a 53-foot birdie putt at the ninth to launch a string of three straight birdies, then seized a share of the lead with a birdie at the 11th.

“I’ve actually been very comfortable on the grens this week,” Detry said.

“I’ve been hitting a lot of fairways as well.”

Kim stormed into a share of second with birdies at the last four holes in a superb eight-under-par 63 for 10-under 132.

“I felt like I kind of figured it out a little bit, especially on the back nine with the driver,” said Kim, who claimed his only tour title at the 2018 John Deere Classic.

“Just made some really good swings.”

Smalley piled up five birdies in the first 11 holes before an eagle at the par-five 13th, where his shot in from the fairway left him a six-foot putt. He gave a stroke back with a bogey at 15 — where he found the water from the fairway — to card a 65.

Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth, making his second start after an absence of five months in the wake of wrist surgery, eagled the 13th and 15th on the way to a 65 that left him tied for fourth on nine-under 133 with South Korean Tom Kim and South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout — who both shot 66.

Justin Thomas, seeking to add to his 15 tour titles for the first time since he won the PGA Championship for the second time in 2022, headlined a group of five players on eight-under 134.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler gave himself what he characterized as an “outside chance” to challenge on the weekend with a five-under-par 66 to head a group on 135.

Scheffler had five birdies without a bogey, and said he felt “much better” about his play than he did after a wild 69 on Thursday that included two eagles, a double-bogey, three birdies and three bogeys.

“Overall (I) did a lot more good things out on the course and am looking forward to the weekend,” he said.

The tournament known for its raucous crowds has taken steps to tone things down this year after a few incidents involving obviously inebriated fans last year.

But the atmosphere, particularly at the par-three 16th that is ringed by hospitality suites, remains lively.

Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo sparked a beer-spraying fan frenzy with a hole-in-one at the 16th, his “perfect” pitching wedge hitting the base of the flagstick and rattling straight into the cup.

“You always dream of making a hole-in-one there, so every time that you step in there you’re trying to make it,” he said.

“It was loud. It was very loud. There were a lot of emotions.”

“I just loved watching the beer go on to the green,” said Grillo, who was projected to make the cut on the number after a two-under 69. The cut will be finalized on Saturday morning after darkness halted play with a handful of players on the course.