"I've Been Beaten Up": Thomas Detry's Honest Confession Comes as Major Dream Remains Alive
HONGKONG LIV-GOLF Belgian professional golfer, Thomas Detry during a game in Fanling Golf Course where LIV Golf Hong Kong is being held in Hong Kong, March 5, 2026. NEXPHER/Vernon Yuen HONG KONG
HONGKONG LIV-GOLF Belgian professional golfer, Thomas Detry during a game in Fanling Golf Course where LIV Golf Hong Kong is being held in Hong Kong, March 5, 2026. NEXPHER/Vernon Yuen HONG KONG
Thomas Detry said he had stopped thinking about qualifying for major championships. But now, he has a chance to earn places in both the U.S. Open and The Open.
The 33-year-old Belgian golfer entered the weekend alone in second place at LIV Golf Andalucia, two shots behind leader Tyrrell Hatton at Valderrama, with both major championship spots still within reach.
Speaking after his second round, Detry was open about the toll the past few weeks had taken.
"I feel like the last couple of weeks I've been beaten up on that side of things," Detry said. "I missed out on the top-60 cutoff by pretty much nothing, and then I had to have a half-decent week at the PGA, ended up missing the cut by one."
March 8, 2026, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Sar, China: Belgiums Thomas DETRY on the 18th green..LIV Golf Hong Kong 2026 Final Round Hong Kong China - ZUMAr144 20260308_zap_r144_076 Copyright: xJaynexRussellx
March 8, 2026, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Sar, China: Belgiums Thomas DETRY on the 18th green..LIV Golf Hong Kong 2026 Final Round Hong Kong China - ZUMAr144 20260308_zap_r144_076 Copyright: xJaynexRussellx
He explained the sequence of near misses in detail.
"Then I flew back to England, played a qualifier, played 36 holes, thought I qualified, and I ended up losing in a playoff," Detry said. "I've given up on that, and I'm just focusing on having a good week this week, to be honest."
Detry shot a second-round 70 on June 5, 2026, to move to 4-under-par for the tournament, according to Golf Monthly.
He recently fell short of U.S. Open qualification at Walton Heath, losing a four-player playoff to Ugo Coussaud for the final spot after missing the cut at Aronimink by one shot two days earlier, a result that also kept him outside the world's top 60.
Thomas Detry Focuses on Good Results Despite Qualification Disappointment
Detry said he has been playing well and getting results lately, even though he has not had much luck when it comes to qualifying for tournaments.
"You look at my results the last couple of tournaments, and I think I've had seven top 10s in my last 11 or 12 events," Detry said.
"But we make so many low world ranking points that it's sometimes tough to just stay inside the top 60."
His immediate focus is a maiden individual LIV Golf title at Valderrama, where he trails LIV golfer Tyrrell Hatton by two shots with 36 holes remaining. The event also offers a place in The Open at Royal Birkdale to the leading non-exempt player in LIV Golf's season-long standings.
Detry is currently fifth in the LIV Golf season standings and ranked 66th in the world.
The U.S. Open qualification deadline is June 15, so the final two rounds at Valderrama are crucial for him. A strong finish could help him move into the world's top 60 and earn a spot in the U.S. Open.
Follow Club Golf for more.
Written by
Sneha Abraham