Séamus Power is just one shot off the lead after carding a bogey-free seven-under 64 in the opening round of the PGA Tour’s ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
The Waterford man carded five birdies – two on the front and three on the back – but the highlight of the day came on the eighth when he holed out a 9-iron from 162 yards for eagle.
“It was a funny one,” he said. “It was right between clubs. With the greens being firm and that pin once you got past it, it’s just not going to stop. I just tried to lean on a 9-iron and came out perfectly. It landed right where I wanted it, and obviously it was very lucky to go in.
“It’s a bonus. I haven’t holed out too many shots this year, so it’s nice to see one go in.”
Power was playing alongside Mackenzie Hughes, the only player to best Power’s 64 by one, and the two fed off each other.
“It was great playing with Mackenzie there,” Power said. “Obviously seeing a lot of birdies go in is also a good thing. We had a nice grouping and nice to get off to a good start.”
Power put a new putter in the bag this week after some recent struggles and the early signs are that the decision is paying off handsomely.
“Just put the other one on alert, sometimes works,” he explained. “Yeah, just haven’t been making as much as — I feel like I’ve been hitting decent putts, but my speed has been a little bit up and down. It’s tough to make putts when your speed is a little bit off.
“So, yeah, got a new one that Ping made. It feels great. I put it in on the weekend, and it felt really good immediately. Yeah, it’s definitely in for the time being. It felt very nice on the course.
“It can be different from hitting putts in practice to tournament. It was nice even on the second hole today to knock one in and get a little confidence going with it early. Yeah, it felt great out there.”
After playing in the Signature Events at Pebble Beach and at the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines, Power had no choice but to play in the opposite field event this week, but he’s embracing the opportunity and thinks that the quality of the field is still exceptional despite the PGA Tour’s top talent being at Philadelphia Cricket Club for the Truist Championship.
“You know, people are always going to have that opinion,” he responded when asked if people felt the real event was on in Philadelphia, “but I mean, the depth on the PGA TOUR, if it’s ever been higher, I would be surprised. Here you’ve got 132 in the field. You’ve got so many good players.
“Everyone is trying to get in the elevated events. Obviously I get that, but it’s a good golf course, and at the end of the week I will say it’s going to be someone with a two and a half year PGA TOUR exemption. That’s going to be the big thing. You have a ticket to Maui sitting here too. You have all that stuff.
“I guess everyone here would prefer to be playing in Philly, but you have a great course and a great tournament. Hopefully it’s here to stay. It’s a very good sponsor and stuff, so it’s been great.
“My experience always with these events have been fantastic. It’s a good feel around it. You see guys are happy to be playing, happy to do all that stuff, and I think it’s a good feel around this.”
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