An effort in blowing out the dirty diesel is probably the best way to consider Seamus Power's weekend in Hawaii.
The Touraneena man began his year on the PGA Tour at the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua where he finished tied for 25th, and 12 shots off the winner Jon Rahm.
The Spaniard was a slightly unexpected winner considering he trailed the then-leader Colin Morikawa by 7 going into Sunday. The former US Open Champion managed to reel in the other former US Open Champion with a blistering final round of 63 to reduce the deficit and claim the title by 2 shots. The wheels came off the cart for Morikawa on the back nine when he shot three back-to-back bogeys for his worst round of the weekend when he carded a 72.
The Waterford man, Power, who had been 12 under after Saturday, managed to improve his score by three, carding a final round of 70; his second -3 round of the weekend. Sunday was the first day he managed to avoid dropping a shot.
Seamus was also drafted in by the PGA Tour to take on the "one-club challenge" on the 18th at the Plantation Couse. Pulling a putter out of the bag, Seamus managed to pick up a tidy bogey. He said "670 yards down the hill with the putter, managed a six, just missed on the high side for my five, but overall I'd probably take it. Hopefully, it's the only bogey I make here this week." Unfortunately, it wasn't his only bogey but for the most part, he managed to avoid handing back shots over the four days.
A 670-yard par 5 using only his putter 😲@Power4Seamus takes on the one-club challenge at the iconic 18th hole @Sentry_TOC. pic.twitter.com/vAaKvTv6Yq
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 8, 2023
With the curtain raiser now in the rearview mirror, attention turns to the inaugural Hero Cup.
The three-day match play event in Abu Dhabi is set to give golfers experience in the team format with the hopes of making the cut for the Ryder Cup in September.
Power has been named by Team Europe Captain Luke Donald in the Great Britain and Ireland team to take on continental Europe at the Abu Dhabi golf course.
The PRO-AM takes place on Thursday with the play to get underway proper on Friday.
