CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Another exciting week of action is on tap for several former Fighting Illini competing in the professional ranks, including the 2024 debuts of Steve Stricker and Thomas Detry.
PGA TOUR
The PGA Tour moves from Hawai’i to the mainland this week for the The American Express in La Quinta, Calif., where two decorated members of Illinois golf’s Belgium-to-Champaign pipeline – Thomas Detry and Adrien Dumont de Chassart – will tee off Thursday.
Detry is set to make his 2024 debut, while Dumont de Chassart embarks on his second PGA Tour event of his rookie campaign. Last week he opened the year at the Sony Open in Hawai’i alongside fellow Illini Nick Hardy, who finished tied for 42nd.
Perfection from the beach! ???@NickHardy8 made this look easy. pic.twitter.com/lRWAHaMBqk
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 12, 2024
Detry finished tied for 26th at The American Express last season, and will open this year’s event with Round 1 on the Pete Dye Stadium Course, one of three venues in play.
Dumont de Chassart, who last week was also recognized as the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour Rookie of the Year, begins his week at La Quinta Country Club.
“When I turned pro in June, I didn’t really expect to be here this quick.”
In less than a year, @adrienddc went from a college classroom to the @PGATOUR.
Fellow @IlliniMGolf alum @NickHardy8 surprised him with the #KornFerryTour Rookie of the Year award at @SonyOpenHawaii. pic.twitter.com/A1SprDvsTo
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) January 11, 2024
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS
Steve Stricker begins defense of his 2023 Charles Schwab Cup title this week when the PGA Tour Champions opens its season at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai in Hawai’i.
Stricker swept the PGA Tour Champions Awards on Tuesday by earning the 2023 Jack Nicklaus Award as the tour’s Player of the Year, while also claiming the Arnold Palmer Award (season money leader) and the Byron Nelson Award (season scoring average leader), setting tour records in both categories.
Charles Schwab Cup winner
Jack Nicklaus Award (Player of the Year)
Arnold Palmer Award (Season Money Winner)
Byron Nelson Award (Season Scoring Average)@SteveStricker won them all ?? pic.twitter.com/EYGMu4CmDh
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) January 17, 2024
Stricker opened his historic 2023 campaign with a win…
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