Seamus Power
Seamus Power aims for a strong finish at the Valspar Championship this weekend, hoping to secure additional starts in the coming weeks and ultimately regain full PGA Tour status. The West Waterford native is currently a reserve for the upcoming Texas Children’s Houston Open and appears unlikely to qualify for the Valero Texas Open the subsequent week.
With the Masters fast approaching and three Signature Events scheduled between Augusta and the PGA Championship, Power anticipates a potential wait until late May for a consistent run of tournament appearances. Despite these scheduling challenges, Power sees encouraging developments in his game. After posting a three-under 68, placing him seven shots behind leader Sungjae Im at Copperhead Resort going into the weekend, he is focused on a significant performance on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
“This is one place I do like,” Power commented, currently tied for 27th at two-under-par, seven strokes behind Im, who leads by one shot over David Lipsky after a round of 69. Following a tied-eighth finish last year – and a prior experience where a Sunday 76 saw him drop from second to 26th – the affable Waterford golfer is determined to capitalize on his position this weekend.
“Last year, I managed a backdoor top-10 finish, and the year before, I had three solid rounds followed by a poor final round,” he recalled. “Perhaps this year, I can put together good performances on both Saturday and Sunday.” Power noted that “The Florida swing has historically not been my strongest period, as I tend to play my best golf in the summer and fall.”
“This marks my seventh event of the year, which is a couple more than I had initially anticipated,” he added. “It’s encouraging to accumulate even a few points and feel like I’m progressing positively.” Power is eager to seize this opportunity to earn crucial FedExCup points, especially with only the top 100 players receiving exemptions for next year.
He is paired with teenager Blades Brown today and understands that a strong weekend performance is essential to secure a spot in the Texas events; otherwise, he will return to Las Vegas for practice. “I mistakenly thought I’d be in next week and even booked a hotel, like an idiot,” he quipped. “So, I believe a top-10 finish here is likely my best chance to get into those events.”
“Once we get to Augusta, with several elevated events scheduled between the Masters and the PGA Championship, there aren’t many FedExCup points available for players not in those fields. Therefore, a successful weekend here would be hugely beneficial.” Brown, 18, demonstrated his potential with a round of 60 at the American Express in January. Power, 39, is aware he will be playing alongside one of the latest big-hitting young talents.
Driving performance has occasionally been a weakness for Power, but he remains confident he can recover the distance lost due to injuries over the last two years. “My short game has improved significantly,” Power stated. “My long game is decent, good in certain areas, but I still have a couple of errant shots each day that are costing me and impeding my progress. It’s very close, which is the frustrating aspect of golf – when you’re on the verge of something clicking, but it hasn’t quite materialized yet.”
“I’m very excited. I had another productive range session and executed many good shots on the course today. My hope is to bring it all together right from the start this weekend.” Regarding the younger generation of golfers, Power expresses amazement at their seemingly effortless power.
“They certainly hit it a long way,” he observed. “I played with Rasmus Højgaard for the first two days, and while he’s not as young as some, his ability to drive the ball off the tee is incredible and appears effortless. Many players possess that kind of power. Unfortunately, due to some injuries, I’ve seen my own distance diminish over the past couple of years.”
“If I’m not competing in the coming weeks, it will provide a significant opportunity to focus extensively on regaining some clubhead speed. Playing alongside Rasmus and a few other golfers recently, it really hits home that an extra 15 yards of carry makes a substantial difference. It’s undeniably a crucial aspect of the game now. Everyone holds their own opinion on this, whether they agree or disagree, but currently, it offers a massive advantage. I’m hopeful I can narrow that gap in the next two weeks.”
Other Tournament Updates
While Power enjoyed a productive Friday in Florida, Leona Maguire and Lauren Walsh both missed the cut at the LPGA’s Fortinet Founders Cup in California. Maguire posted a 74, finishing four shots shy of the level-par cut, while Walsh was two strokes further back with a 76. In the same event, Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim shot a 70, establishing a four-shot lead at 11-under-par over Mexico’s Gaby Lopez at Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club.
Meanwhile, at the LET’s Australian WPGA Championship, local favorite Hannah Green carded a four-under 67, securing a two-shot lead over Switzerland’s Vanessa Knecht heading into the final round at 14-under-par. Green is aiming for her third consecutive victory to start the season at Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club, where Aine Donegan recorded a third-round 72 with 35 putts, placing her in a tie for 34th at one-under. Annabel Wilson finished tied for 55th at three-over-par after also carding a 72.
Saturday’s play concluded with Jorge Campillo and Jordan Gumberg sharing the lead at 17-under-par at the Hainan Classic, setting the stage for a thrilling final round. Campillo, who began the day two strokes behind, delivered a bogey-free round at Mission Hills Haikou, featuring four birdies on the front nine and one on the back. The Spaniard skillfully navigated his second round on the Blackstone Course, capitalizing on calmer conditions compared to the previous day to erase the deficit and position himself favorably after 54 holes. The 39-year-old will be aiming to add a fourth DP World Tour victory to his resume on Sunday.