Tom Gillis hopes that golf gets better after 40.
Gillis, a Lake Orion native who now lives part of the year in Oxford, is having a pretty good year as a professional golfer and hopes to qualify in the coming months to play next season on the PGA circuit.
A few years ago, Gillis suffered through some injuries and illness while trying to compete as a professional golfer. Those days are behind him now and at age 40 he said he feels better than ever and ready to compete.
‘I am better than I was five years ago, no question,? he said. ‘I’m more experienced. This is a game of concentration and emotion and experience helps. And I am physically stronger now, too.?
He first learned the game as a young boy when he caddied at Indianwood Golf and Country Club, in Lake Orion. He was a good student of golf and developed his game at local courses including Oxford Hills.
‘I always had a knack for the game,? he said.
After graduating from Lake Orion High School in 1986, he attended Oakland College before attending Coastal Carolina College, in South Carolina.
Following college, he went professional.
In 1994, he won the Michigan Open. That victory helped launch Gillis into his career on the professional circuit.
This past June, Gillis repeated his Michigan Open victory, winning the 91st annual playing of the state tournament.
He shot a 13-under par 274 to win the state title.
Earlier in the season he placed seventh earlier in a tournament on the Nationwide Tour held in California.
He is playing this week at the Xerox Classic in Rochester, New York, and played recently in the British Open.
‘It was the second time I’ve played in the British Open. I have played in five majors. They are always exciting and a good test.?
Gillis expects to play in more than 20 tournaments this year and will participate in the PGA qualifying school in the hopes of competing full time next year on the tour. Qualifying play begins later this year in Florida and ends in California.
Gillis has played golf professionally since 1990. From 1998 to 2002 he played on the European Tour. In 2003 and 2005 he was on the PGA tour and in 2006 he competed in the Nationwide Tour.
Now that some of the injuries and illness are in the past and he is stronger and older, Gillis hopes his time has come.
‘Playing golf is one of the beautiful things about my job,? he said. ‘My goal is to compete on the PGA tour next year.?