IN-FORM THORNTON MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR THE SENIOR CIRCUIT
Paul Gallagher sits down with former European Tour winner Simon Thornton to hear about his plans ahead of playing on the Senior circuit (Photo: Harry Thompson)
In our new series of interviews for Golfer Northern Ireland, Paul Gallagher sits down with former European Tour and multiple Irish PGA Championship winner Simon Thornton to get the lowdown on his season so far and how much he is looking forward to getting back on the road on the Senior Tour when he turns 50
How are you getting on, good start to the season?
Yeah, all good thanks. Back into the middle of the season after a little break for a couple of weeks with the family. I’m playing mainly on the PGA Irish Region and preparing really for the Legends Tour in a couple of years. That’s the main goal at this stage for when I turn 50.
As you know, I had a couple of years in Spa Golf Club, which was great, but my heart is in playing, always has been. In my role as Head Pro at Spa GC, it made me realise I'm a golfer and not a club pro as such. For me all focus is now on 2027 (when I turn 50). That’s my D-Day. I think I'm the only person that wants to get older to get to 50 as quick as I can so I can get playing.
I'll maybe try Champions Tour qualifying at the end of 2026 too. So that's the plan. Getting fitter, getting stronger before I get back to playing on the senior circuit.
That’s an interesting concept. When people get to 50 or a certain age, they perhaps think about slowing down, but you’re energised for hitting the ground running again?
Yeah, I can't wait to be honest. I maybe didn't do things as I wanted when I was on tour first time around the period when I was finishing up and had my operation and stuff and the kids were growing up. Maybe I could have done some things differently. But I just love playing. I love competing.
We’re fortunate to get a second lease of life in golf. Although it's not at the main tour, it’s certainly competitive and you can earn a few quid and travel the world again. I can't wait.
You’re usually a slow starter to the season, but not this time. What’s been the secret?
It’s funny, I'm more of a late bloomer, but I've done well this year because I've loved getting back playing again and that has shown in my results. Once I got back competing, the scores just came. I've been playing for a living for a long time, and you also need to be in the right frame of mind to shoot the scores.
(Thornton has had three wins, two runners-up and four other top 10s in the PGA Irish Region at time of writing this column. View results HERE).
Yes, you look energised and ready to let the clubs do the talking.
About eight months ago I started proper gym work at ATC, a local gym here and I love it. It's general fitness, not golf specific. I've really got into that. The thing is I can feel myself getting mentally stronger for longer on the golf course too. I’m maybe not hitting the ball any further yet but I’m much more focused for all 18 holes.
I remember years ago, Kevan Whitson, my old head pro and coach, and I were on the golf course, and we took a video on the first tee, and we took a video on the 18th tee, and the difference in the posture was unbelievable from simply being tired and therefore not mentally sharp. It was frightening.
Fitness is a big thing for me now. I need to walk off the golf course with the same energy as I walk onto the golf course. And I can pretty much do that now.
Does that mean stupid o'clock, 6am runs around Tollymore are paying off?
Well, every Wednesday is a stupid o'clock run with the ATC crew, yes. But at my age, I can only do one a week! I’m quite flexible with time and before I might have been apprehensive about going to the gym before playing but not now. It's no bother at all.
I'm sure Rory [McIlroy] and the boys are doing it day in day out. If they can do it, why not me?
What’s it like playing in the Pro-am format? Is it difficult to keep your concentration while ensuring the amateurs have a good day out?
You still must concentrate anytime you’re competing; it's your livelihood. I think it's a great format where everyone can play whatever your level.
As pros, we’re more used to the pressure situations whereas amateurs can get scared of shots like on the first tee. You try and put the amateurs at ease and say, look, it's a team game, it doesn't really matter. And after a few holes, you can tell they've settled down. But most of them are quite nervous on the first tee.
I'm pretty chilled and laid back when it comes to that. And good at clicking into my own game very quickly. The skill is to sort of blank everything out to concentrate on my own shots.
That's interesting you touch on the mental side of the game; how do you embrace those pressure situations?
It's a big part and I'm fascinated by the mental and psychology side of the game. Consistency and pre-shot routines are massive, much bigger than typical amateurs think about. I constantly work on pre-shot routine, put all my focus into the next shot and commit to it.
Any event I'm playing in, I have three practice swings on the first tee, and then I go. When it comes to the round I have one practice swing. It's mad, it's like three on the first tee just tells me to concentrate on my breathing, think about what I'm doing and telling myself not to worry about consequences of the shot. Pick your shot, pick your line, and hit it.
The mental side of the game is a skill in itself. I've been doing it for 20 years now. But look, we’re all human, we’re all going to make mistakes, it’s how you react and move on that’s important.
In conversation with…
Simon Thornton chatting at Mourne Golf Club within the famous Royal County Down campus at Newcastle.
(Photo: Harry Thompson)
I see you’ve also had the kids on the bag for some events too, how has that been?
It’s brilliant for them to see me playing again and be involved. Katie and Ryan are both quite sporty, especially Ryan. We’re a tight-knit family and love spending time together. So sometimes Ciara and I take the two kids and alternate the caddying role - or have an argument who does the next event! We had events like Wentworth and the Irish Open at RCD last year and the Belfry too, some great events, plus others here in the Irish Region. On the trip to the Belfry, it was Ryan and I and my good friend Ross Methven, so it was like a lad’s trip away.
For the kids to be involved in tournaments is great. That’s what it’s all about, creating memories.
Where the kids too young first time around to know what dad did for a living?
I missed the likes of Ryan’s birth, which affected me mentally. They were too young. We’ve old pictures but they don’t really remember anything about it. Katie was probably six when I finished playing and I don’t think Ryan remembers what he did yesterday, never mind what he did when he was younger!
Dare I ask, who is the better caddy?
Katie! She’ll say nothing, she’ll just stand there, she’ll give you the club, she’ll clean the club, she’ll give you the water, she’ll give you the chocolate, she’ll move to the next tee. Ryan will be over there looking for a ball or swinging a club in the background, just being a kid!
It’s the height of summer, The Open at Portrush just around the corner, can I get your thoughts on Rory McIlroy and just how good he is from a players’ perspective?
Listen, there’s obviously talent, but there’s also a huge work ethic, people don’t always see that, the work that he puts in.
Obviously, the stories that we know over here in Northern Ireland about the time he put in as a kid on the practice ground and putting green while his dad was working multiple jobs. Rory is simply different to a lot of guys. He has that 1% in every different element and you put those altogether, suddenly, you’ve got a 5% better per player, do you know what I mean?
It’s hard to put the finger on what it is, but he has that draw, the X factor. In my eyes, there’s only two people that move the needle in golf, and that’s Tiger and Rory. And to be spoken about in the same breath as Tiger is phenomenal.
Like most of the top players, fitness is now a key part of your plans as you look to the future?
Yes, it’s not just about hitting balls, it’s the entire holistic approach, especially when we sometimes get a second lease of life in golf. Listen, I’m never going to turn out like Arnold Schwarzenegger but with the level of fitness I have now it will be interesting to see how that will affect my game at the top level again.
Do you have specific goals for the rest of the season?
Just to keep getting better. I never set goals when I was playing. My only goal from 2004 onwards was to get better every day. I look forward to playing well until the end of the season in the Irish Region and see where that takes me by staying fit and strong over the winter.
Next year could be a big one and I really want to hit the ground running. Even more so with the clear goal of Seniors in 2027. You can tell I’m excited for the Seniors. I want to go and do it again. I want to do it properly!
WHAT’S IN THE BAG: SIMON THORNTON
Driver - Titleist GT3 10 degree set at D1, Hzrdus Tour X 60gram RMX Smoke
Fairway - 3-wood 13.5 - Titleist TSI set at D4, Hzrdus Smoke 6.5 70gram
Hybrid - Titleist TSI 19 degree set at A1, Tensei 80gram X flex
Irons - King Tour 4-PW Modus 120x
Wedges - Vokey SM10 51/55/60 True Temper Dynamic Gold S300
Putter - White Hot Versa Double Wide
Bag - Cobra Tour stand bag by Vessel
Headcover - PRG Vanto range.
Ball - Titleist 2023 ProV1
Clothes - Trendygolf