Thomas Higgins is one of the brightest young stars of Irish Golf. The Roscommon Town man has just won his third full Irish cap, and this summer Thomas was an integral part of the multi-talented Roscommon Golf Club side who made history winning the Connacht Barton Shield and Senior Cup titles in the same season.
Thomas was awarded honorary life membership of Roscommon Golf Club in 2024 in recognition of his achievements to date.
Thomas has been attending Clemson University in the USA for the past three years and on Friday August 15th he returns for his final year. Like his good friend and fellow Roscommon star Cian O’Connor, Thomas is looking forward to his final year in college and a future in the game as a professional.
When I met Thomas before he returned to the USA I first asked him about his game. “I feel it’s improving all the time. I’m happy where I am at the minute. I feel that I have improved gradually since I started college. It’s good to return home every year a better player and hopefully that can continue.”
Getting on the Irish team has been another major sign of progression too. “It was great to make it on to the Irish team and I have three caps now. I love the team events and it’s great fun to to be involved at that level. They are events that you will always remember.”
Thomas says that going back to the USA for a fourth year will allow for further improvement. “I’m looking forward to it to be honest. I know the place well at this stage. It will be great to get back into a routine. On the academic side I’m studying psychology and I will have five modules to complete this semester so that will certainly keep me busy.”
“In terms of the golf I would be playing almost every day. There would be very little casual golf to be honest. There is always some kind of competitive golf going on which I like.”
So in terms of coaching who is involved there? “Jordan Byrd is the head coach in Clemson and he has been a huge help to me. When I am here at home I do a lot of technical work with Mike Kennelly in Galway and we do a lot of online stuff as well’”
So what part of his game does he need to work on? “I would say my approach (iron) play need the most attention. I am driving the ball great and my short game has come on a lot. My putting is decent and can get better of course, but the approach play is where I need to tighten up. From 150 down to 100 yards out I need to work on. If I can do that my all round game would be in good shape.”
This summer Thomas made a special effort to play with his club mates and friends for Roscommon in the Connacht finals in the Barton Shield and Senior Cup and he says it was one of the highlights of his career so far. “It was class to be able to play in the Barton Shield and Senior Cup and to win both was unreal with all the lads I grew up playing with was fantastic. I would dearly love to have been able to play in the All Ireland finals but there isn’t a lot I can do about it. But I’ll be wishing them well in the finals. “
As this is the fourth and final year for Thomas in the USA has he cast an eye on the future? “Well I intend to turn pro after college. But I want to wait for the Walker Cup which is in Lahinch next year. My aim is to get on the Walker Cup team. I missed out narrowly this time around and I know I’m not far away but I hope to be there or thereabouts when that comes around. It would magical to be able to play in Lahinch but we will see what happens. I plan to turn pro after that”
“But I’m under no illusions. It’s very hard and ultra competitive and you have to be very good, but golf is what I wanted to do all along and it’s a challenge for me. If I didn’t turn pro and woke up in 10 years time saying I should have had a go and feel that I missed out, so I am definitely going to give it a go.”
So where did it all start. “We started very early to be honest we were 8 or 9 and we were out in Roscommon morning noon and night. But really from the 10, 11 and 12 we got really interested. There was a crowd of us who all played together and in terms of coaching Philip Murphy would have helped us out when we were growing up. When I was 12 then I went to Declan Cunningham in Galway who has been great for me.”
“But the main thing that brought us on was that there were several other lads like Simon (Walker), Fionn (Hoare) Cian (O’Connor) , the Hill’s, the Connaughton’s and they were all competitive and you cannot buy that competition, every day and every week and that made us all better players.”
So who has been the biggest influence on his career so far. “I have to say that Declan (Cunningham) had a huge influence. I also will say that my current coaches in Clemson and Mike (Keneally) have taken me to the next level as well so they have all played a big part. I have also been very lucky to have such a great support structure at home with my mam (Mary) and dad (Thomas senior) and sister (Anna) there to support me. “
So finally, what does Thomas say to the many youngsters who are taking up the game at the moment, what his advice? “I would say to them make sure you enjoy it and if you go out with a few friends and you will enjoy it even more. The reason why a lot of us became good players is that there was a group of us. We had endless competitions even out on the putting green all trying to beat each other every day. We had great fun doing that. You have to enjoy it first. The rest will follow.” he concluded.
Exciting times ahead for Thomas and we all wish him the best of luck.
