IF THINGS go as planned, 2026 could be an even bigger year on the PGA Irish Region Tour than last year for Simon Thornton.
Thornton had a fantastic season in 2025 when he won his fourth Irish PGA Championship, and the PGA of Ireland’s Order of Merit after five victories.
But he says he needs to do even better this year, as doing so will help him achieve his big goal for 2027, which is to be competitive on the European Legends tour.
“I need to hit the ground running in 2027 in the European Legends tour). “That means competing from day one and not just getting used to it. “So I am hoping that this coming season will be bigger and better. “If I can be better than I was this year (2025) then I think I could do something similar (in 2026).”
Something similar would mean matching a season that saw him win at events in Ardglass, Carne, Delgany, Balmoral and Thurles, where he is competing this weekend.
His consistency and quality on the Irish Open Tour indicates that he still has some of the competitive spirit that served him so well on the European Tour.
Simon earned a place on the Tour in 2011, and went on to win an event at Sant-Omer in Lumbres, France in June 23.
He made multiple cuts on the on the European Tour from 2011 to 2015, but then moved away from competitive golf as his children grew older.
Now he sees the Legends Tour, which players qualify for when they turn 50, as a second chance to play elite level golf again.
“There are not many sports that give you another go at 50. “I keep saying that I am the only person who wants to get to 50! “Half the guys are there because of career earnings. The likes of Ian Woosnam, golfing legends like him, and the other half are there because they are bloody good players at 50, and they are still competing. “They are the best in the business and they are still playing.”
Simon explained that his plan is to spend 2026 getting himself competitively sharp.
He says the way he used do that was simple.
“I never really set goals throughout my career. My only goal every day was to wake up in the morning and to get better than I was yesterday.”
Simon’s approach is good advice for anyone who wants to get better at golf.
“Everyone should try to go and do a little bit on their game, whether that is the mental side, or whether it is hitting more fairways. “A lot of people set a big goal and then worry about not making it because it is so high. Like reaching the PGA Tour or being the best player in the world. They are massive goals. “But how do you get there? You break it down to small steps. “For me it always bit by bit. Just be better tomorrow than I was today. That has stood me in good stead.”
