Newsmaker: Paul Simson, champion senior golfer

July 16, 2011 | by Golfweek

Ron Balicki of Golfweek talks to Paul Simson, winner of the 2010 British, U.S. and Canadian Senior Amateurs

- interview by Ron Balicki

Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C. went where no one has gone before in 2010 when he became the only player to win the British, U.S. and Canadian Senior Amateur in the same year. Recently, the 60-year-old insurance executive was in Rumford, Rhode Island for the Northeast Amateur, where he tied for 34th against players young enough to be his grandchildren. Simson will be playing in the Senior Open Championship July 21-24 at Walton Heath in England.

How would you describe your year in 2010, and what did it mean to you?

It's still something I can't believe happened. I set high goals, but to set goals that high would be humorous. To win all three of those in a lifetime would be rare, bu to do it in one year is pretty incredible.

What are your expectations for this season?

I try to set reasonable goals. Obviously, I'd like to defend my titles, for sure. But my big goals are to play better at the British Senior Open and U.S. Senior Open. I really haven't played that well in those over the years, so I'd really like to put four good rounds together and have a strong showing.

All the success among seniors, and at the Northeast Amateur you went up against all these young collegians and juniors. How do you keep up with them, and do you change your game plan?

These young guys hit it 50, 60 yards ahead of me, but they can go all over the place, so I have a little advantage by keeping my ball in position. There are so many really good young players now, bu some are just learning to deal with adversity. I still enjoy coming out and playing against them.

How much longer will you keep competing at this level?

Who knows? As long as I'm feeling good healthwise and feel I'm competitive, we'll see. I guess as long as I can beat more flat bellies than can beat me, I'll keep going.

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