SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

April 18, 2026

Keith Horne

Press Conference

The Concession Golf Club

THE MODERATOR: Keith Horne is with us at the 2026 Senior PGA Championship. Keith, a 66 for you today, 11-under. How are you feeling going into Sunday's finale?

KEITH HORNE: Yeah, good, obviously. I'm very happy with my day today. I was really nervous when I started today, and it didn't really go away all day. I stayed nervous just about the whole day. It's just hard work out there.

I managed to keep it together, and I've hit enough good shots at the right time when I needed them. I'm very chuffed with 66.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Was the nervousness just teeing off late on the weekend at a senior major, or was there something else involved?

KEITH HORNE: Actually, a couple of things, to be honest. It was obviously late, you know, in a major. Also, I'm want feeling great about my golf swing, and I'm kind of worried about where it's going to go almost every single golf shot.

It helps as well as hinders at the same time, because I really have to concentrate really hard on every single golf shot. I don't get ahead of myself, because it's not like I'm playing so great I'm thinking, well, this is fantastic. I'm really staying in the moment, because I'm worried about the golf swing and what could potentially go wrong. So it really does keep me in the moment, but it does also make me a little bit more anxious on a lot of the shots.

Q. Is that something you have to fight on a semi-regular basis, just not sure where it's going to go?

KEITH HORNE: You mean normally or just today? Not necessarily normally, no. Obviously it differs. The importance, it changes a bit. There's nothing better than playing in a big golf tournament and feeling in full control of your golf swing, but you know, that's not the case this week.

You know, it's not like it's terrible or anything like that, but it's enough to make me nervous about just standing up and swinging it at the target.

Q. Keith, are you surprised about leading this tournament, and how does it feel?

KEITH HORNE: Yeah, of course, I'm surprised. It's such a strong field, such a quality field that's playing this week. It's not something we get to play in that often against the guys of this stature and quality. A lot of them are my idols. I watched a lot of them on TV. I only (indiscernible) quite late, so you know, I am surprised.

Like I say, I think that also helped. It's not something I sort of planned or played for. I just try to stick to my own game, and I think that helped me today without looking around too much at what I'm leading, et cetera.

Q. What was it like playing with Sriroj? He was really animated out there with fist pumps.

KEITH HORNE: Thammanoon and I know each other. I played on the Asian Tour for 22 years. I haven't played with him for a few years. He plays on the Japan Senior Tour now, but we do know each other well.

He's a lovely guy. We just tried to keep things upbeat and encourage each other out there, both being in positions that we're not used to. It was a really good day. We enjoyed each other's company out there.

Q. Keith, I wanted to ask you, 22 years on the Asian Tour. Have you shared the lead or been in the lead after 54 holes in that span?

KEITH HORNE: Yes, I've never won in Asia, but yes, many, many times. I've won nine, or depending which tournaments you count, 13 on the Sunshine Tour, so the South African tour. That's when I played most of my golf. I played in Europe on and off for a good 12 years.

You know, I've been around, and I've been in the lead a few times. Only starting to win a bit more now as a senior, and I think maybe I'm guessing somewhere around ten or 12 wins on the senior tour.

Q. So tomorrow will you be looking at the scoreboard occasionally?

KEITH HORNE: I try not. No, I'm not a scoreboard watcher. I think you get two types of people. I'm not the most confrontational person, so you know, I'd rather just stay away and just stick to my own game.

I think if I look up and I feel like I need to chase or push or beat somebody specific, it doesn't help me. It only hinders me. I maybe just try too hard or put too much pressure on myself.

So I do just stick to my own game and try not to look at the leaderboards.

Q. What can you tell us about Sriroj's golf game?

KEITH HORNE: So he's a magnificent putter. Most Thai players have got the best short games. Phenomenal short games. That's what they're very well known for in the Asian Tour. Thammanoon is no different. He has a magnificent short game.

I think today if I had to guess, if I counted quickly, he missed a couple of short putts, and he still had about 24 putts today I think, 25 putts. Really, really good player. Very confident, and he's won a lot on the Japanese Tour.

I think you can correct me if I'm wrong, he might be the Godfather of the Thai Spinner. I don't know if you have ever heard about a Thai Spinner. You should look it up and see that golf shot. It's pretty phenomenal. I think he's actually the Godfather of the Thai Spinner. He taught everybody to do it.

Q. Because you and Sriroj do have a history going back on the Asian Tour, did that make playing today together a little bit more comfortable as opposed to, say, if you were paired up with Cink?

KEITH HORNE: I think the fact that we're both not used to place in America, et cetera, I think that kind of made it a little bit, you know, root for each other. That made it, like, really want each other to do well. I think it was a bit of camaraderie out there.

Yeah, I mean, he's a really nice guy. I think we just try to encourage each other right from the get-go.