Power undecided where his new season schedule will take him

Seamus Power’s decision on what events he may contest in Europe in a quest to qualify for the European Ryder Cup team would seem to be up in the air following the PGA Tour’s announcement of a massive prize-money boost for four 2022/2023 season events.

Power’s been a member of the DP World Tour since last May and joined the Tour with the bigger-picture goal of hopefully securing automatic selection into Luke Donald’s 2023 European Ryder Cup side, and with the 2023 European Ryder Cup selection now into its fifth week, he’s currently ranked 121^st on the ‘World’ points qualifying list, and given he’s based in the US, this would be the list he’d expect to qualify from.

However, the Waterford golfer must surely have been considering contesting some of the earlier new 2023 season DP World Tour events being staged in the Middle East and maybe also returning to Europe late June/early July but those thoughts could now change following the PGA Tour announcement of more than doubling to $20m four events – the WM Phoenix Open, the RBC Heritage, Wells Fargo Championship and Travelers Championship.

“I haven’t really looked,” was his reply at this week’s CJ Cup when asked whether he knows what events he will be contesting in the New Year.

“The PGA Tour announcement kind of changed things for the Spring and that’s what we were kind of all waiting for to put it together, so I kind of got to sit down next time I have a week off and go from there.”

Of course, it is the thought of contesting a maiden Ryder Cup that is a strong 2023 goal for Power, and at 46^th in the World Rankings he’s assured, at this stage, of qualifying for the four majors along with all the other ‘big-money’ tournaments.

“I’ve had a couple people give a call recently about what are my plans but it is so much up in the air with wondering what was going to happen with some of these events, so now there’s a bit of clarity there,” he said.

“I think I’ll figure out a better schedule and see what I can do.”

Irish golf fans, and no doubt Luke Donald and the DP World Tour, would certainly welcome Power teeing-up early in the New Year in the Middle East for a first time in his career while his appearance at the K Club next July for the Irish Open would really boost local interest but then as Power says, his new-season playing schedule is yet to be decided.

Watch this space!