Bernie McGuire, St. Andrews
It’s been just over a month since Mark Power last teed it up on the famed Old Course bowing out of the amateur ranks carrying the disappointment of losing the 2023 Walker Cup to the visiting Americans.
However, it is definitely not Power’s mood with the Irishman buoyed by returning to the Auld Grey Toon now as a rookie professional competing on the DP World Tour.
The 23-year-old Kilenny golfer signed for a two-under-par 70 on the opening day of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.
“I have so many fond memories coming back here to St. Andrews so soon after the Walker Cup”, he said.
“The Walker Cup was a special week and though a little disapppointed we did not get the job done, personally I had an amazing week and it was also my last amateur tournament.
“It would have been great had we won but walking up to the first tee here at the Old Course this morning brought back some great feelings.
“Before this year, I had not played that much golf on the Old Course, and while I have played on many of the other courses here in St. Andrews, I’d not been on the Old Course.
“Even having just played the Walker Cup here, I was still learning more about it today, and it is just so special.
“I played with Dean Burmester today and told me he’s been coming here to St. Andrews for 15 years, and he never grows old in learning something new about the Old Course.
“It’s just so special while we got a bit of a taste of the Scottish weather out there today but that’s all part of dealing with the learning process here at St. Andrews”.
This week is only Power’s third tournament since turning pro having secured a share of 33rd on debut at the Horizon Irish Open that earned him a tidy €40,000 payday, while he missed the cut in the recent Cazoo French Open.
“I’ve found the move to the pro ranks very smooth and no real issues, and having played college golf at Wake Forest in the States, I feel that helped in transition to the professional game”, he said.
“So, I feel pretty comfortable and also feel ready to make the next step. Playing the Irish Open was a great experience I felt like being out there today I was not getting rewarded for my good shots while there were a few putts that ran over the edge.
“There were nice birdies on the front nine but you still had to work for them but overall a little disappointed with the score as it could have been a little better”.
Power will venture to Carnoustie tomorrow for his second round and also just a second visit to famed Open Championship venue since playing it for the first time on Monday while he’ll also play Kingsbarns Links for a second time in teeing-up Saturday in his third round.
At this stage, Power has qualified for the second stage of the 2024 Tour Q-School being held in four venues in Spain during the first week in November.
“Hopefully, a good week this week will take care of things and I may not have to travel to Spain, so all I can do is try to keep ticking the boxes”, he said.
Working for Power this week is long-time DP World Tour caddie Damien Moore, who has caddied for the likes of Stevie Gallacher and himself is only returning to this week to the Tour after recent knee surgery.
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