Livescore
If ever there was a case for the Monday qualifier to stay a part of the WM Phoenix Open in the future, Will Chandler proved it’s a viable option on Sunday.
The PGA Tour rookie wasn’t in the field when the week began at TPC Scottsdale and ended the week with his first made cut in a Tour event and his first top-10 finish, shooting 5-under 66 on Sunday to tie for sixth. He played Sunday in the same group as world No. 1 — and two-time WM champion Scottie Scheffler — beating him by six shots on the day and the tournament.
It was a fitting send-off for Monday Qs in what could be the last one ever at the tournament. The Phoenix Open qualifier has been held every year since 1948. Next year, with changes coming to field sizes on the PGA Tour, including the Phoenix Open field shrinking, no Monday Q will be held.
“I don’t know the history of how the Monday qualifiers have done in this event, but it’s nice,” Chandler said Sunday. “It was good. I wish I could have done a little better. But yeah, that’s nice.”
Thomas Detry ran away with the tournament, birdieing his last four holes to finish at 24 under and become the first Belgian to win on the PGA Tour. It was his first victory as a Tour member. But the second best story of the week belonged to Chandler, who said he had never played in front of such big crowds this week.
“The crowds were great all week,” Chandler said. “Even on Tuesday when I showed up, I’m like, ‘Oh, my goodness, this is amazing. This is awesome.’ It was good.”
Add in the pressure of playing with Scheffler on Sunday, it was something he had never experienced in his golf career.
“He was great all day,” Chandler said of playing alongside world No. 1. “Like I said, he’s an amazing player, but he was awesome. He couldn’t have been nicer. He seems like a great person.”
Chandler’s finish puts him at No. 72 in the early FedEx Cup standings, and the top-10 finish gets him into the field at next week’s Mexico Open at Vidanta. He said he didn’t have an option when asked why he entered the qualifier since he wasn’t in the field.
His play, however, is a life-changing finish and one that could propel him to a big 2025 season. And he’ll always have the title as the last Monday qualifier who finished in the top 10.
“I’m leaving a little happier than I did my first two events, but at the end of the day, it’s golf,” Chandler said. “I’m definitely, definitely pleased with the week, but I’m excited to get back to work and get home. I have a lot I can improve on for sure.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Monday qualifier Will Chandler earns first Tour top 10 at Phoenix Open
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