Séamus Power’s superb week at the WGC Matchplay has come to an end, but the goal at the beginning of the week has been achieved with comfort, as the West Waterford man has fulfilled a childhood dream in qualifying for the Augusta Masters on April 7th.
Having dismantled the world number seventeen Tyrrell Hatton with consummate ease earlier in the afternoon, the Touraneena man faced Scottie Scheffler, who made the last 8 courtesy of a final hole victory against the reigning champion, Billy Horschel.
Séamus saw off the world number four Patrick Cantlay in the group phases, and now came the opportunity to dispatch of the world number five with a place in the semi-finals at stake.
It was a case of missed opportunity for Power at the first, as he failed to sink a five-footer to take the hole, settling for the halve.
The roles were reversed at the second, with Scheffler two-putting when seemingly in the ascendancy, and Séamus salvaging the all square.
Again, opportunity presented itself at the third but it was not capitalised upon - a six-foot putt going amiss to take the hole, as the duo headed to the fourth with nothing to split them.
Both players two-putted to make 3s at the par 3 4th, before the world number five took the lead at the fifth.
The pair hit similar tee shots, but from the following shot, it was off the green for Séamus, and to within three feet for the American, who made little mistake in sinking the requisite putt to seize an early advantage.
It was during this spell that Scheffler began to turn on the style, showing why he is the leader in the FedEx Cup rankings this campaign. Driving the ball a stunning 400 plus yards, Scheffler then hit his approach to within six feet for the prospect of an eagle, while Power was two feet further behind in the hope of a birdie. That effort came unstuck, and the American was two up with three holes left on the front nine.
Séamus’ tee shot at the 7th landed within sixteen feet of the pin, with the pair both landing pars and moving on to the eighth, where Scheffler struggled.
An opening became available to Power when Scheffler sent his shot over the green, and his resultant effort into the bunker, and incredibly - his shit clipped the pin, but thankfully for Power, skewed off to a distance, leaving him a lengthy putt for a bogey. A delightful piece of touch from Séamus drew him to within inches, capitalising to reduce the deficit back to one shot heading into the final hole on the front nine.
An amazing 359-yard drive from the teebox at the 9th landed Séamus, the last remaining European in the competition, to within 80 yards of the pin, before spinning his second effort to within 6ft through superb judgement. The pressure was on though, as Scottie landed his to within seven. Scheffler missed his opportunity, and Power sank his to square the match at the halfway point, leaving the tie poised enticingly going into the back nine.
Scheffler, with an opportunity to become the world number one with a tournament victory this week, was looking to claw back his earlier advantage having handed the Waterford man the momentum. Séamus hit a 40 foot birdie attempt to within two feet, with Scheffler granted a chance to win the hole, but failing to take up the opportunity and it was all square off to the 11th.
At the 11th, a fortunate bounce landed the Touraneena man on the green, while Scheffler took aim at the flag and landed poker-straight with no bounce to put on the pressure. Séamus overcooked his second putt, leaving himself work to do to land par. Scheffler sank his second within inches, and a nice firm putt from Power salvaged the all square, with seven holes left to play.
Things took a turn for the worst at the twelfth, as Séamus’ ball went swimming in the water in an unforced error. Unsurprisingly, the clinical Scheffler took full advantage to move one clear again.
The 25-year-old overcooked his tee shot on the 13th, cannoning off the backboard at the back of the green on the 285-yard par 4, while Power opted for a less aggressive opening effort, giving himself a license to attack the flagstick from the fairway, and he landed the requisite effort within 15 feet of the pin. Scheffler made a decent recovery to keep breathing down his opponent’s neck, and he beautifully read his putt to move two ahead with five left to play. Pressure on Power.
Scheffler’s delightful distance control again reared it’s head at the 14th as he cooked a fine effort onto the green for a shot at birdie, with Séamus finding the rough on the edge of the green and looking for par at best. It was a par a piece, with the Barbasol Championship winner needing to get aggressive with time running out.
With the fifteenth also halved, Séamus needed to take the win at the 16th, or else it was all square at best that could be salvaged by the finish. Hitting the water with his tee shot at sixteen, all seemed to be wrapped up, with Scheffler granted the opportunity to move three up with two to play.
As expected, Scheffler took full advantage to take the tie 3 & 2 with an outstanding chip-in eagle.
Scheffler’s bid to become world number one will catch fire tomorrow as he faces the winner of the mammoth clash between Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka.
Having defeated world number four Patrick Cantlay, world number seventeen Tyrrell Hatton, and world number 21 Sungjae Im - it’s been an incredible week for Séamus Power.
The next time we see him on the tee will be at the famed Augusta Masters, on the occasion of a major debut. His performance has made all in Waterford incredibly proud, as we eagerly await April 7th.
