Driving issues holding back Power’s bid for maiden victory
SÉAMUS POWER is more convinced than ever that he can win on the PGA Tour after he had an average week with the driver and still finish tied 11th behind Jon Rahm in the Career Builder Challenge.
Rahm (23) overtook Jordan Spieth as world No 2 thanks to his play-off win over Andrew Landry at PGA West’s Stadium Course in Palm Springs – the second victory of his PGA Tour career and his fourth inside 12 months.
Now it’s Power’s turn to show he has what it takes to win in the US after he notched the second-best finish of his PGA Tour career despite hitting just half the fairways over the last two rounds.
“I know I am also good enough to win out here and it’s all about playing your best on a given week and having a few breaks go your way,” Power told the media after a scrambling, final-round 70.
DRIVING
The West Waterford star (30) admitted his driving let him down, but he hopes to have it straightened up in time for this week’s Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego’s Torrey Pines, where Tiger Woods, Pádraig Harrington and Shane Lowry will be making their first starts of the year.
“I shot 65 on Saturday struggling a bit with the driver so I know it could have been a few shots better,” he said.
“So I will just work on it now before Thursday, hopefully we can make a few more birdies.”
Forced to go to the Web.com Tour’s Play-offs to retain his card last year, Power must finish inside the top 125 in the FedExCup standings to keep his card.
“The points are massive,” said Power, who earned $135,700 (€110,700) and 110 FedExCup points to move up 44 places to 90th in standings on Sunday.
“Every shot makes a big difference, so if I can chip and putt as well and hit a few more fairways, I can move up a bit more before the re-rank next month.”
On the European Tour, Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Paul Dunne will return to action in this week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
Former world No 4 and US Open champion Graeme McDowell, who slipped to 202nd in the world yesterday and out the top 200 for the first time since April 2004, is the first reserve.