Thomas Detry believes he is ready to crown an impressive start to his professional career with a maiden victory at this week’s D+D REAL Slovakia Challenge, just his fourth European Challenge Tour event since joining the paid ranks.
The Belgian, following in the footsteps of his best friend Thomas Pieters in learning his trade on Europe’s top developmental tour, began professional life with a top six finish at the KPMG Trophy before bettering that with a second place at the Najeti Open.
Last week, the 23 year old enjoyed his first taste of life on the European Tour as he thrived at the 100thOpen de France, tying for 25thplace, and he admits that his immediate affinity for life at the top end of the golfing world has surprised even him.
“Last week was great again,” he said. “It gave me a little taste of what it’s like out there and it motivates me even more – I saw what it was like and I saw that I have the level to play out there as well.
“I just want to go through this year on the Challenge Tour, play as well as I can here and hopefully get my European Tour card at the end of the season.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better start. I had two chances to win, so maybe it would have been even better if I had won one, but it has been great so far.
“Honestly, when I look back on it, the biggest part of this start was my first two rounds in Belgium. I came back from America a little tired, had a lot of meetings, didn’t even play on the Tuesday that week – it was kind of hard to prepare for the tournament.
“I had no expectation and I shot five under par, five under par, and that was huge and gave me some confidence. I had a good top six there and then confirmed it in Saint-Omer the next week by coming second.
“I personally didn’t really expect to do this well so soon. I feel like people, like my coaches, have been telling me ‘don’t worry, you’ll be fine, just play your game,’ and that’s exactly what I did and already I’m right there.
“So as much as I’m a little surprised, I was listening to and trusting my coach and just playing my own game, and that’s the biggest challenge, not to overplay or be nervous, and I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job of that so far.”
The picturesque Penati Golf Resort hosts this week’s tournament on the Challenge Tour for the third time but, despite his rookie status, Detry is familiar with the challenges posed by the Jack Nicklaus-designed Legend Course.
Last year’s International European Amateur Championship was held in Senica, with Detry finishing in a tie for sixth place – alongside Marcus Kinhult and behind Gary Hurley and Gavin Moynihan, all of whom are also in the field this week – and he hopes that experience will help him achieve his one goal for the week: to win.
“It’s a beautiful course,” he said. “I played here last August so I know the course really well and it’s stunning – I’ve heard it might be windy this week, but it’s in perfect condition and you can definitely go low around here.
“The course is playing very similar to last year – the only difference is that we played the 15thas a par five, not a par six, and I was surprised it’s playing as a par six this year, I thought they would put it back to a par five.
“It’s kind of strange to have a par six, to be honest, but it’s a nice change, and hopefully a chance to make some eagles out there, or even lower!
“Right now my expectation and goal is to win. I really want to win as soon as possible because I feel that my game is there – one thing I need to do is pace myself because it’s now been five weeks in a row and you really do feel it towards the weekend.
“I’ve got next week off and this week I just need to make sure I relax, don’t lose energy hitting a lot of balls, and I think it’s all going to be fine, but I’m hoping to win.”
The par six 15thhole has proved to be a major discussion point this week – at 783 yards, it is the longest golf hole in Europe.
A strong field has assembled in Slovakia to try to tame that and the 17 other holes, headed by Bernd Ritthammer, who arrives on the back of a maiden Challenge Tour victory at the Made In Denmark Challenge – Presented by Ejner Hessel.
The top two players in the Road to Oman Rankings, Jordan Smith and Matthieu Pavon, have been paired together for the first two rounds, while Sebastian Soderberg makes his first Challenge Tour appearance since competing in his first Major at the US Open Championship.
