Ireland’s Seamus Power is projected to qualify for next week’s second of three ultra-lucrative FedEx Play-Off Series events after a solid round of 70 on day one of the Northern Trust.
Power grabbed two birdies and dropped just one shot in the dull and windy morning conditions on the Liberty National course laid-out in New Jersey and commanding stunning views out over the Hudson River to New York City.
The West Waterford golfer ended his round just four shots behind American and opening round playing partner, Harold Varner 111 who was in the clubhouse and leading the Euro 8.1m event after a five-under 66.
Photograph – www.golfbytourmiss.com
European Ryder Cup rookie certainty, Viktor Hovland snatched six birdies in a three-under 68.
Power is making just a second appearance in the Play-Offs having earned his place three years but that on the back of the nail-biting experience of securing the 125th and last place into the Northern Trust. Three years on, he’s now a PGA Tour winner and it showed in how the current FedEx No. 73 has proudly carried himself since arriving on the course.
“It was very windy early on and now that I’m finished, I hope it stays that way for the rest of the day”, said Power.
“The thing is the wind is from a different direction to the practice rounds and for the early part of my round we were just trying to figure it out.
“So, it was tough out there and some of the pins were tucked away and it was one of the days where I holed a lot of par putts which you need to do, at times, in conditions like we had this morning.
“Saying that, I really didn’t have my ‘A’ game as there were pins out there that I would have no hesitation in attacking but then standing here and being under par, is a great score.
“I’ll work on the game this afternoon and hopefully come out a little stronger tomorrow”.
The Tour has Power projected to move to No. 69 on the standing and with the leading 70 at the close of this week moving into next week’s BMW Championship in Baltimore, Maryland.
Power, upstaged fellow Irishman Rory McIlroy, albeit by a shot, with the two-time PGA Tour No. 1 bogeying his closing hole in a level par 71.
Mcllroy was one-over after six holes after two birdies and three bogeys and then after six straight pars he two-putted the par-5 13th and then bogeyed 14 ahead of birdies at 15 and 16.
He parred the 17th but then three-putted the last from some 35-feet for bogey.
Shane Lowry was out in the afternoon half of the 125-player field
