Seamus Power put to bed a poor record at PGA National as he putted his way into the weekend with a second round of 68 at the Cognizant Classic.
Power who has missed his last four cuts here in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2025 and whose only claim to fame here is winning a Web.com qualifier in 2014, is perched inside the top-10 at the time of writing on four-under having moved up 44 places to within five shots of the lead.
The West Waterford man is 84th in strokes gained off the tee and 90th in approach but he managed to reel off five birdies in thirteen holes including a run of four in six before a dropped shot at the Bear Trap’s 17th, and he owes that to his short game as he is 5th around the green and 8th in putting.
“This place has been funny to me because I actually got through Q-school here back in 2014 and I loved it, and slightly different time of year, it plays a little different and grasses feel a little different, and it hasn’t been great to me. It’s nice to see,” said the world number 151 who holds conditional PGA Tour status this year.
“Honestly, I’m not actually playing brilliant, but the short game has been excellent, scrambling, really hanging in there well, making some putts. If I can get something figured out over the weekend — But it’s a tough golf course. It doesn’t let you get comfortable really at any stage, and I think that’s unique about this place. It’s just, even holes that just don’t seem that tough on the scorecard, but if you’ve got a crosswind and you’ve got this and you’ve got that and you just miss it, it’s very, very tricky. It’s a really good layout for that. It’s going to test everyone for the next two and a half days. But it’s nice to be in under par, and two more good rounds over the weekend needed, but obviously it’s nice to be in there.”
Known as someone who hits his stride in the summer and the autumn part of the season, Power has seen some positive results early on and was recently 11th at Torrey Pines having previously never made the cut there, and he believes an improvement in his putting technique can help him churn out results in tournaments he hasn’t previously performed well in over the years.
“I’ve been putting much, much better. Last couple years been a little bit cold on the greens, which is unusual for me. Got a bit of confidence back on the greens. Hitting it okay, still not where I want, but at least I know where it’s going so I can manage it. I’m not dropping too many shots, where on holes if there’s trouble on one side, I’m able to at least know how to keep it down the other side. I think that helps here.
“But obviously making a few putts is huge. It was nice to get under par like on the first, and then even getting that one on the eighth. This golf course is — I know it’s an obvious thing to say, but it’s easier to play from under par and it’s easier to be conservative when you need to be. All in all, a lot of good stuff. Some things to tidy up, but overall a good spot after two days.”
The two-time PGA Tour winner hasn’t traditionally done well in the West Coast or Florida swing but with his starts limited this year and a renewed attitude he feels his focus has been sharpened.
“No, because Florida golf, for someone coming from Ireland, is always tougher. I’ve never quite — I’ve played well at Valspar, and that’s basically the only success I’ve had in Florida.
“The West Coast on the kikuyu grass is a little weird, as well. I’ve always played a lot of my best golf in the summer and fall, so it’s nice to get a few points on the board and game trending in the right direction even this time of year. As I said, I know I’m not going to have all the starts this year, so maybe just being a little bit more focused on the ones I do have, and maybe that’s part of it. It obviously doesn’t seem like that, but maybe that’s an aspect. But overall, I think I feel like I’m in a very good spot mentally.
“Like someone told me the other day, a good attitude is helped a lot by a good short game, and that’s the way it’s been so far the last couple days. Been able to hang in there, get some up-and-downs, and just keep it going.”
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