Touraneena native Séamus Power has risen to 41st in the latest official world golf rankings.
It’s after his superb display at the WGC Matchplay saw him become the only European at the tournament to make the quarter-finals, the 35-year-old defeating then world number 21 Sungjae Im, world number 4 Patrick Cantlay and world number 17 Tyrrell Hatton on the way to the last eight, where he was defeated by 3 & 2 by the eventual champion, Scottie Scheffler.
Scheffler’s victory over Kevin Kisner in Sunday’s final makes the 25-year-old the 25th player to become the world number one.
Most importantly for Power, today being March 28th - it means his place in the top 50 alone confirms his position at the Augusta Masters from April 7th, in what will be his major tournament debut.
At this time last year, the West Waterford man was ranked 463rd and fighting for his tour card - his maiden victory at the Barbasol Championship in July securing him an exemption for two years, and giving him the comfort to pick and choose his tournaments in the meantime.
He has also passed the $2,000,000 mark for earnings on the tour this season as his official T5 finish in Texas landed him a cheque for $386,000.
In terms of ranking points, the WGC Matchplay represented Séamus’ third best ever showing on the tour, with only his maiden win and a third place at the Sony Open eclipsing the week just gone.
He will no longer play in the upcoming Valspar Championship, and the next time he tees it up will be for a drive down the famed Magnolia Lane.
Power also rises to 17th in the FedEx Cup standings, which are also led by world number one Scheffler.
Rory McIlroy remains in the world’s top ten on ninth, with Shane Lowry 35th and Pádraig Harrington in 145th.
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