NEWCASTLE golfer Simon Thornton will take part in the pinnacle of PGA professional golf this weekend at the K Club.
Simon is the only Irish member of the Great Britan and Ireland ten-man team that will take on the USA in the PGA Cup.
The PGA Cup is a biennial contest between the Professional Golfers’ Associations of Great Britain & Ireland (PGA) and United States (PGA of America).
The event is seen as the pinnacle for PGA professionals, going head-to-head in a Ryder Cup format to win the Llandudno International Trophy.
Simon said: “It is so different. It is a team event. It is match-play golf. Which we don’t play much of in professional golf.
“It is the ten best Great Britain and Ireland players against the ten best American players.
“For the PGA as an entity, you cannot get any higher than this.”
Players qualify for the competition based on their performance in the PGA Championship across the two years leading up to the competition.
The qualifying tournaments take place in England. Their location meant it was difficult for Simon to take part in those events.
He competes in Ireland region events and is the current leader in the points race.
He qualified for the PGA Cup as one of captain David Scott’s three picks.
Simon said: “Hopefully that is a reward for the good golf that I have played for the past two years and having qualified for the last two events.
“I have been a strong player for the last four years.
“But to get a captain’s pick at the ripe old age of 49 is pretty special I think. He trusts and knows my game and thinks that I will be a positive influence on the team.”
Four years ago, Simon qualified for the event in Foxhill in London, two years ago he qualified when the event was in America, but he chose to play in the Irish Open instead as it was played at Royal County Down.
Simon went to the K Club on Tuesday and will practice on Wednesday and Thursday.
The opening ceremony is on Thursday afternoon.
He thinks that the course gives himself and the Great Britain and Ireland team a massive advantage.
“It is a good golf course. I have played it a lot of times. There certainly won’t be anyone there who knows it more than I do. I am looking forward to passing that knowledge on to the guys.”
The K Club has a special place in Simon’s heart, as it was the first European Tour cut that he made as a professional way back in 2006, 20 years ago.
“I know it like the back of my hand. I have good, strong memories.
“It is long, which is not ideal for me, but the rough is quite thick, which is good. The idea is that that will catch the Americans out and we will have the greens at the speed that we know.”
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