“This is better for my wife and two children”: Belgian golfer Thomas Detry explains his choice for the Saudi petrodollars

Last season Detry competed in the American PGA Tour, the most sportingly prestigious tour in the world. Detry shone last year by being the first compatriot ever to win a tournament, the Phoenix Open, in the United States. That final victory earned him a monster check for around 1.6 million euros. In three seasons on the PGA Tour, Detry collected 8.8 million euros in prize money. In the previous seven years as a professional, his bill on the European circuit increased to 7.4 million euros.

So now he opts for the petrodollars. The LIV Golf Tour is largely financed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the PIF. The LIV Tour was launched in 2021 and started a year later. Many big names in golf, such as Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson or Jon Rahm, have since made the switch.

Detry: “Better for my wife and two children”

“This is one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make,” Detry told the specialized website Today’s Golfer. “I was preparing to head to the US for the start of the PGA Tour season when I got a phone call from Thomas before Christmas. It had never occurred to me that a spot would open up (he replaces Harold Varner III at 4Aces). After that, the idea stuck in my head and I became convinced. I have a wife and two small children and we basically live all over the US, going from tournament to tournament, living out of our suitcases. So the idea matured that this might be a lot would be better. In addition, the team aspect is also very nice.”

Detry, number 58 in the golf rankings, regrets that he will not be able to defend his title in Phoenix. “It was my best win and it is one of the coolest tournaments on the PGA Tour. That is a real shame. But on the other hand, there is also a lot of positive to look forward to, such as the team aspect and the fact that I will be at home a little more.”

Dustin Johnson, 4Aces team captain, calls Detry “a great asset.” “He is confident, competitive and that is exactly what we stand for.” The new season in the LIV Golf Tour starts next month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.