Illini Men’s Golf in the Pros | Feb. 10, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Thomas Detry’s win at the WM Phoenix Open, and a strong start to the LIV Golf Season by Thomas Pieters, set up the next events for each of the former Illini this week.

PGA TOUR

Detry, coming off his first-career PGA Tour victory last weekend at the WM Phoenix Open, now turns his attention to The Genesis Invitational, a part of the PGA Tours Signature Event series.

Detry impressed in closing out his win at TPC Scottsdale, running away with the victory by seven strokes at 24-under. The performance, which also marked the first PGA Tour victory ever by a player from Belgium, catapulted the former Illini up the Official World Golf Rankings to No. 22, a jump of 36 spots to establish a new peak for his career.

He is now No. 2 in the FedEx Cup rankings through his first five events of the 2025 season, boasting two top 5s and a trio of top-20 finishes. Detry is qualified for all Signature Events and has officially sewn up spots in THE PLAYERS Championship, Masters, and PGA Championship.

This week’s Genesis Invitational has been moved to Torrey Pines (South Course) due to the fires that impacted the Los Angeles area. Detry has played in the Genesis Invitational once before, a T33 finish in 2023. He owns three previous starts at Torrey Pines for the Farmers Insurance Open, including a T15 earlier this season.

LIV GOLF LEAGUE

Thomas Pieters is back in action for the second event of the LIV Golf season in Adelaide, Australia. The 12-year pro made his debut for 4Aces GC this week and turned in the team’s top performance in Riyadh where he carded a 9-under to finish tied for 18^th under the lights.   

He will make his third-career start at The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide. In his first season with his former club, RangeGoats GC, Pieters shot 7-under to finish 33^rd. Last season, he posted a T14 finish at 13-under.

KORN FERRY TOUR

Luke Guthrie made his third cut in four starts on the Korn Ferry Tour this season, posting a tie for 59^th at the Astara Golf Championship in Bogota, Colombia. Guthrie is No. 32 on the Korn Ferry Tour points list, heading into the tour’s next event, Feb. 27-Mars 2 at the 118 Visa Argentina Open in Buenos Aires, Argentina.