Power elbows his way into Hawaii field

SEAMUS POWER will get a chance to test his elbow and make a move towards winning back full playing rights after grabbing a last-gasp spot in this week’s Sony Open in Hawaii.

The West Waterford star (right) was hoping to make his first start since the November surgery on his right elbow in The American Express at La Quinta in California next week.

But as first alternate for the Sony Open, he was thrilled to get a late call to jet out to Waialae Country Club after Jhonattan Vegas withdrew after a positive Covid-19 test.

It will be Power’s fourth start in the Sony Open in Hawaii, and he will be looking to make hay in a €5.43m event that boasts a star-studded field featuring 20 of the world’s top 50 headed by world number five and reigning PGA champion Collin Morikawa and World No 8 Webb Simpson.

Power (33), who hopes to play the next three PGA Tour events, tees it up with Talor Gooch and Bill Haas (5.30pm Irish time) knowing he needs a win or a couple of big weeks this season to make the top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings.

It’s a similar story on the European Tour for Greystones’ Paul Dunne (28), who along with former Walker Cup team-mate Cormac Sharvin (28), was yesterday awarded an invitation for next month’s Saudi International.

Dunne and Sharvin will join World No 1 Dustin Johnson, US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau as well as leading Europeans Tommy

Fleetwood, Sergio Garcia, Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, Lee Westwood and defending champion Graeme McDowell at Royal Greens GCC.

The invitations are huge for Dunne and Sharvin, who are not currently in the fields for next week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, where Rory McIlroy returns, or the following week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Dunne, who is currently practising in Dubai, was downbeat about his chances of playing much European Tour golf before the spring after losing his card at the end of 2019.

The Greystones golfer underwent hand surgery instead of going to the Qualifying School and played just seven events last season with his most recent start a missed cut in the Irish Open last September.

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