Top world-ranked Seamus Power delighted in joining the birdie barrage on day one of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
The World No. 48 ranked Power grabbed eight birdies, including a run of six birdies in 12 holes and then two over his closing three, in a superb six-under-par tally 65 in the stillest of conditions on the host Port Royal course.
It handed the Waterford golfer, contesting the Bermudian tournament for a fourth year in succession, a then clubhouse share of 11th place before eventually settling for a share of 15th, just three off the lead on a jam-packed leaderboard.
American Austin Smotherman and Aussie Harrison Endycott share the lead with nine-under 62s, with the Sydney-born Endycott snatching two eagles in his round on the course that previously played host from 2009 to the final event in 2014 of the most elite Grand Slam of Golf.
It was such a day for low scoring that just under 50 players including Power, lie within four shots of the lead in the $US6m event.
Power teed-up contesting his fourth event of the new 2022/’23 PGA Tour season and with his Bermuda round easily his lowest by two shots in the 11 rounds he’s contested.
Starting from the first on the course that charges visitors around $180 to tee-up, Power birdied the second, fourth, seventh, ninth and then headed to his back nine to add birdies at 11 and 12.
As the only player in the field inside the top-50 on the world rankings, Power then dropped shots at 13 and 15 ahead of regrouping to birdie 16 and 17, and then at the last he saved par after his downhill third shot rolled well past the hole, leaving Power again scratching his head, but bravely saved par.
“I felt as though I got the score I deserved as I played nicely on the front nine and while I missed a couple of putts on the back nine, it was nice to get a couple back there at the end of my round and then hole a great par save at the last,” he said.
“It felt strange playing the course in these calm conditions. It was bizarre as every hole was a birdie chance.
“So overall, it was not too bad and while I didn’t have my best stuff on the back nine, I am pretty pleased.”
However with the Friday forecast of strong winds, possibly nudging upwards of 30mph, Power is hoping to get his earlier tee-time over before the worst of the expected winds.
“I hear the forecast is for high winds tomorrow, so we’ll see how much bearing they will have on the scoring but then I am out in the morning and hopefully I can get the best of the conditions and it will be slightly less severe than the afternoon.
Double major-winning John Daly, still looking more like Santa Claus, signed for a level par 71 with the now 56-year-old gladly accepting an invitation to be one of only two major winners contesting the event. The other being former US Open champ Lucas Glover who posted a five-under 66.
Also in the field is 2023 European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald and signing off with a 71.
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