Power waits by the Christmas tree with a Rome visit top of his wish list

Bernie McGuire
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Seamus Power (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Bernie McGuire

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Current PGA Tour No. 1 Seamus Power is back home in Ireland standing by the family Christmas tree with the assurance of a visit to Rome later next year at the top of his New Year wish list.

Power’s second straight winning season sees him fully exempt into the four majors of 2023 while after spending a short time during the Festive Season with family in Dungarvan, it will be off to Hawaii.

It will be Power’s second straight early New Year visit to the January 5th commencing ‘winners only’ Sentry Tournament of Champions after capturing the Bermuda Championship on the PGA Tour.

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The lofty World No. 28 ranked Power will then head to the Middle East for a first time in his career, teeing-up in the Tommy Fleetwood captained GB&I Hero Cup side to tackle a Francesco Molinari led Continent of Europe in a Ryder Cup style format in Abu Dhabi.

Overseeing proceedings in Abu Dhabi will be European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald who’s using the event as a hopeful guide to possible Rome Ryder Cup pairings.

Power will remain in the UAE capital to tee-up in following week’s $US9m Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the opening event of the rich 2023 Rolex Series.

It’s then back to the States and straight into the deep end of the PGA Tour, and with all pre-April roads leading to Augusta National along with the huge comfort for Power in also having already qualified automatically for the Players Championship, WGC – Dell Match-Play, PGA Championship, the US Open and the Open Championship, and not to forget a bunch of ‘elevated’ $US 20m events.

If all goes well in securing an automatic pick, he’ll be aboard September’s charter flight to Rome, with Power expressing his Ryder Cup aspirations in the latest ‘3 off the Tee’ podcast.

“The Ryder Cup is incredible,” Power said. “I don’t watch a ton of golf but the tournaments that I seem to remember in my mind are the Masters, The Open, the Irish Open and the Ryder Cup.

“The Ryder Cup, it just seems to mean so much more. You’re playing for so much more than just yourself. At the Olympics in Rio, you are representing Ireland but obviously the Ryder Cup, you are representing Europe and your family in Ireland, which just you don’t get a chance to do all the time.

“It’d be so special to be a part of it, you know, even like the last time around seeing Shane [Lowry] make that putt on 18 and the pure passion on his face. Nobody’s going to forget Medinah back in 2012 now, which is amazing.

“Just watching that, and watching Paul McGinley hole the putt at The Belfry, they’re just moments that are bigger than the individual player. And I think just wanting to be a part of something like that just makes it so special. So that’s going to be a huge goal.”

And during the podcast, Power found time to sing the praise of the three newest Irish players to have earned their way onto the DP World Tour, including fellow West Waterford man Gary Hurley.

“It’s unbelievable, to be honest as Gary’s had a great year,” said Power.

“People probably don’t follow the Alps Tour stuff but I mean, he was in contention so often, he was up there shooting good rounds under pressure.

“I haven’t got to sit down with him yet. But you get a massive, massive boost of confidence and I think going into Q-School with his Challenge Tour card — and only five cards were available [from Alps] — I imagine that probably gave him a little bit more freedom.

“He played so well at Final Stage and I have been at Tour School — I don’t really wish it upon anyone to be honest. It’s the most unenjoyable tournament. He played so well, it was remarkable.

“And then like John Murphy as well getting the card on the last day as well. It’s fantastic for Irish golf, because it’s tough to get to those top tours.  A lot of people start out on those mini-tours and they can really beat you down and knock your confidence because it’s not very glamorous. Obviously, the finances are tough, you’re just trying to keep your head above the water and you know, you’ve so much on the line going into that Q-School and if it doesn’t go your way, it’s just a horrible feeling.

“So, for both those guys, It’s just an amazing achievement and I am looking forward to following them all year.”

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