Power surges into the mix at Heritage

Ireland’s Séamus Power is just two shots off the lead after the first round of the star-studdedRBCHeritageat Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina.

The Waterford golfer got off to a storming start at the $20m event, with birdies on his first three holes and another on the par-five fifth on his way to a first round of six-under-par 65 to sit two shots behind leader JT Poston.

Power (right) made up more ground on the 10th and 13th before dropping a shot on the par-three 17th after a threeputt. However, he balanced that slip-up out on the last with an 18ft putt for his seventh birdie of the day. Poston and Power lead a field that includes Masters champ Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, and runner-up at Augusta Ludvig Aberg. Shane Lowry carded a one-under 70.

At the first ladies Major of the year, the Chevron Championship, Stephanie Meadow posted a respectable one-under 71 to lie five shots off early leader Lauren Coughlin at The Woodlands GC in Texas. Leona Maguire lies a shot behind Meadow after the Cavan star recovered from a double-bogey seven on the fourth to finish level-par.

Meanwhile, crowds will be limited to around 16,000 a day for the Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down from September 12-15. The decision to reduce the number of spectators at the famous Newcastle links has been made by the DP World Tour to ensure maximum comfort, especially for young fans.

“That’s around 5-6,000 a day less than in 2015, the feeling very much being that they want people, especially the younger generation, being able to see when they’re here,” said Kevin Lowry, chairman of the club’s Irish Open committee, at a facilitation day for the Irish Golf Writers’ Association.

While McIlroy, Pádraig Hárrington and Lowry will be the star attractions, the tour is also hoping to persuade as many members of the 2007 Walker Cup teams to tee it up. RBC Heritage, 12.0pm Chevron Championship, 3.0pm (Both live on Sky Sports)