Jhonattan Vegas’ misfortune is now Seamus Power benefit after Vegas was forced out of this week’s Sony Open after testing positive to Covid-19.
The Venezuelan-born Texan Vegas joins a worrying increasing number of PGA Tour players to have tested positive to the deadly virus since the PGA Tour returned from the lockdown on 11th June last year.
Seamus Power receiving an unexpected start into this week’s Hawaiian Open. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
It means the 36-year-old Vegas now self-quarantining for the next fortnight and not only missing out on teeing-up next week in Hawaii, and where he was returning to tee-up for a first occasion in six years since finishing T44th in the 2015 event.
On the other hand, Power last contested the Sony Open in 2019 while he’s teed-up on the host Waialae CC course in Honolulu also in 2017 and 2018.
Power contested four events of the wraparound 2020/21 schedule ahead of the Christmas/New Year break and it will be event since undergoing surgery following his last PGA Tour showing of a top-40 finish at the Bermuda Championship in November.
The West Waterford golfer’s status remains unchanged despite the reduced schedule last year meaning he is going to have limited and also ‘short notice’ starts such as this week’s event in Hawaii.
One half of Ireland’s 2016 Olympic Games male golf team has contested six shy of 100 PGA Tour events since making the jump from the then Web.com Tour.
The West Waterford golfer has also banked over $2.5million worth of prize money during that time so it’s understandable Power is out to make every post a winner.
Heading this week’s Sony Open field is reigning US Open winner, Collin Morkiawa and defending champion, Cameron Smith from Australia.
Good news also for the European Tour based Irish pair of Paul Dunne and Cormac Sharvin who have been afforded invitations to contest the 4th to 7th February Saudi International.
