Seamus Power insists that the disappointment of a final hole bogey at the Northern Trust won’t spoil what’s been a stunning season that’s seen him claim a maiden title and secure his PGA Tour future for the next two years.
The West Waterford man was inside the top-70 that would ultimately advance to this week’s BMW Championship playing the ninth – his last hole – having made three brilliant back-nine birdies to turn his fortunes around.
Power striped his drive down the fairway but missed the green low left to what was always going to prove a tricky up and down. He left himself a ten-footer for par, a putt that would’ve sealed his place in the second playoff event for the first time in his career but it was a putt he’d miss; Power denied at the last, signing off with a 68 for a tie for 31st at eight-under while finishing 72nd on the FedEx Cup table having amassed over $1.5 million dollars on the fairways this year.
“For me there was nothing to lose and only to gain,” Power said, who was ranked 429th in the world at the start of the year.
“I didn’t quite gain enough. Just didn’t have my best game and that’s what cost me. It’s a strong field. Guys making birdies all over the place and I wasn’t able to get it close. On the last, perfect example, just needed a good iron, it wasn’t there.
“It what is it is. I gave it my best. Bogey at the last disappointing but in a few days I’ll be feeling better about it.”
In truth, Power already looked to be over the disappointment, cutting a content figure at the Sky Cart where he seemed to be taking his near-miss better than interviewer Henni Koyack.
“I still take away a lot,” Power said, who banked $48,925 for the week. “I’ve played The Players Championship once but it’s probably the next best strength of field I’ve ever played in and you know, I didn’t have my A-game and I still finished in a decent spot.
“I’ll take a lot away from that. It was my first time around the course and I was kind of learning as I went but overall I just didn’t have my best game the last couple of weeks.
“It’s not a bad way to finish. You’d prefer to end up in East Lake but for me, starting the year in a kind of poor category and ending up in a winner’s category, I just don’t have too many complaints.”
Meanwhile, Shane Lowry went a long way towards consolidating his place on Padraig Harrington’s Ryder Cup team after returning another high-quality week that saw him rake in $203,775.
The Offaly man wasn’t firing on all cylinders on the final day but signed off with a one-over 72 to top-score from an Irish perspective in a tie for 11th at 12-under and crucially collect a bundle of World Points to tighten up his position in ninth and last place on Europe’s list of automatic qualifiers.
He’ll also have the benefit of another lucrative playoff date this week at the BMW, joining the top-70 at 47th on the FedEx table with the top-30 after Sunday’s final round then advancing to the Tour Championship at East Lake. Rory McIlroy is currently two places inside that top-30 after another nearly week saw the Holywood man tie 43rd at seven-under par.
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