Seamus Power is headed to a maiden Masters but many will be surprised he’s travelled to Augusta National six times in the past, having been fortunate to obtain patron’s tickets.
So, the Irishman already has a great idea of what to expect when he drives up Magnolia Lane for the first time tomorrow (Sunday) morning local time.
One of those is the famed Augusta Pimento cheese sandwiches.
Pimento cheese has been referred to as the ‘pate or caviar of the south’.
The Masters famed Pimento Cheese Sandwich
This America’s southern delicacy is a recipe of cheddar or processed cheese, mayonnaise or salad dressing, and pimento which is chili pepper. For Masters players and patrons alike, they come wrapped, and what more would expect, but in an Augusta green coloured sealed plastic bag. Though they’re not everyone’s cup of tea.
“I was expecting more from the sandwich, to be honest, as I had heard so much about them,” said Power. “It was fine, it’s nice but a pimento cheese sandwich is not really my thing. I’ve had one every time I was at the Masters, you kind of feel like you have to when you are there.
“It is nice that with Masters tickets so hard to come by and expensive, it’s great that at least the prices of on-site food and drink, as they give patrons a break with the prices. It’s a nice touch”.
Power’s Best Masters Moments ..
Power says he has two special moments in his time watching the Masters that he fondly recalls.
The first is the 2011 Masters but not with Rory McIlroy letting slip a four-shot lead with a hole to play, but South African Charl Schwartzel coming from four back, and thanks to birdies over his closing four holes, and winning by two shots at the 75th Masters.
“Charl Schwartzel birding the last four to win in 2011 was amazing”, said Power. “I always thought that highlighted Augusta for me, if you can get yourself into a good position a lot of crazy things can happen”.
A second strong memory for Power was in 2005 and the now infamous Tiger Woods chip-in at the par-3 16th, ahead of then beating Chris DiMarco in a play-off.
“Tiger’s chip in playing with DiMarco was just brilliant”, said Power. “It’s always fascinating to me too that Tiger then went on to bogey the last two and on 18, I have never seen it done before in stroke play but he ran his first putt or chip by the hole by about 4 or 5 feet and elected to continue to try and put pressure on DiMarco, he did follow him in but it’s something I remember as I had never seen it in stroke play before.
“There are others like the iconic Tiger win in 1997 but I was very young, I remember hearing about it but I didn’t really grasp the significance of it for a few years”.
Seamus Power – Fact File
Born – 4th March 1987 (Touraneena, Waterford)
Age – 35
Lives – Las Vegas, Nevada.
Irish Amateur career – Won 2005, 2007 & 2008 Irish Youths
Turned Pro – 2011
Pro Career Wins – 6
First PGA Tour event – 2016 Safeway Open
Number of PGA Tour events –123 (Made halfway cut in 76)
PGA Tour Wins – 1 (Barbasol Championship, July 2021)
PGA Tour career earnings – $6,183,860
World Ranking – 41st (April 2021 – 463rd)
First World Ranking event – 1178th (2005 Nissan Irish Open – amateur)
Major Championship appearances – 1 (2022 Masters)
Biggest golfing influence – Watching Tiger Woods win the 1997 Masters.
Career Highlights – Maiden PGA Tour win at 2021 Barbasol Championship, Represented Ireland with Padraig Harrington at 2016 Rio Olympics
