Power eyes major run thanks to WGC Match Play heroics
SÉAMUS POWER can start making plans to play in all four majors this year following his impressive debut performance in the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play in Texas.
The West Waterford man (35) hi took a series of massive scalps at Austin Country Club, beating two-time PGA Tour winner Sungjae Im and US Ryder Cup star Patrick Cantlay 5 and 4 to top his group before seeing off European Ryder Cup player Tyrrell Hatton in the last 16.
He would eventually fall to new world No 1 and eventual winner, Scottie Scheffler, 3 and 2 in the quarter-finals, but jumps from 48th to 41st in the world and firmly establishes himself on the radar of Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stenson.
Power had already qualified for May’s PGA Championship at Southern Hills in Tulsa, but he will not only make his major debut in the Masters at Augusta National next week, but he can also now start making tentative plans for the US Open and The Open.
He looks a certainty to remain in the top 60 in the world on May 23who will tee it up in the US Open at The Country Club at Brookline from June 16-19, while the top 50 on that date will also play the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews in July.
Power can also make The Open if he’s one of the top five and ties, not otherwise exempt, inside the top 20 in the FedExCup after the Travelers Championship on June 26, and as he was projected to move up five spots to 17th last night, ten places ahead of Rory McIlroy.
In fact, he’s the second-highest ranked Irish player behind McIlroy in the Race to Dubai, easing into the top 30 having only joined the DP World Tour last week.
He picked up $386,000 (€351,433) for his tie for fifth at Austin Country Club, taking his career earnings beyond $6 million. Scores
But even with four top 10s from 15 starts this season, he was disappointed to fall to Scheffler, who survived going from five up to one-up against Dustin Johnson to win their semi-final 3 and 1 and set up a clash with Kevin Kisner, a one-up winner over Corey Conners, for the title in Texas last night and a potential move to world number one.
“It was a good week,” Power said. “It’s my first time playing this tournament, so overall it’s been a positive appearance.”
Reflecting on what it means for his confidence as he prepares for his Masters debut, he said: “My confidence is good, and my confidence is high. But it’s funny - it’s disappointing to lose, but it’s still a good week, so it’s an unusual feeling.
“But it’s been a good finish in a very good field, so there is something positive in that, but then in an hour’s time, I will be able to see a lot more positives. I will go back to Las Vegas and then go to The Masters, hopefully as it looks very good, starting the Sunday before.”
Scheffler was five-up after 11 holes against Johnson, who made three birdies in four holes to get back to one down before lipping out from five feet for a half at the 16th and again from 17 feet at the 17th before conceding.
In the final, Scheffler went three up after six and closed out a 4&3 win over Kisner to become the first American to become world number one without winning a major since David Duval in 1999.
In the consolation match, Canadian Conners beat Johnson 3&1.
McDowell 50th in Dominican Republic
In the Dominican Republic, Graeme McDowell (42) had to settle for a share of 50th on four-under, 13 shots behind winner Chad Ramey in the Corales Puntacana Championship.
McDowell was fifth after halfway after a brace of 68s but he slipped to a 73 on Saturday and while he covered his opening nine in two-under last night, he made five bogeys in the way home in a closing 75.
Overnight leader Ramey (29) birdied four his last six holes in a closing 67 for a one-shot win over Alex Smalley and Ben Martin.
