Seamus Power’s ‘Play-Off Series’ pocket money is on Tiger Woods to bring down long-time arch-rival Phil Mickelson in their now eagerly-awaited $9m winne-takes-all Las Vega showdown.
Woods and Mickelson went onto Twitter to confirm the staging of ‘The Match’ to be held under lights on Thanksgiving evening (November 23rd) at the Shadow Creek club.
There’s already been plenty of social media banter between the multi-Major winning duo and that is down to a blunder on the promotional graphic that shows Woods with a left-handed driver in his hands.
“That was a mistake in the advertising,” said Woods smiling. “I can hit tee shots left-handed. That’s not a problem. But I would have a hard time getting the ball in the air left-handed with any other club.”
Power got a real taste of high-rollers action on the opening day of the Northern Trust on the host Ridgewood Country Club course five groups behind Woods.
“I’ve felt the buzz here this week since arriving on Tuesday and it is just great to be a part of the tournament,” he said.
“Tiger’s generated so much interest and it’s just great that he and Phil have confirmed their match later this year but I was hoping they would be playing with their own money.”
“One of my favourite golf programs, and I know it has been off the TV for a long while, was the Shell Series Wonderful World Of Golf as I just loved that.”
“I do think it’s going to fun with clearly two of the best players of their generation and while some people may say it’s not a tournament and stuff like that, Tiger just draws so many eyes.”
“Then you’ve got Phil who in any head-on situation is always going to be hard to beat but my money is on Tiger. The way Tiger has been playing you would have to pick Tiger. He’s got a good match-play record and we saw the other week at the PGA he is back to near his very best.”
“And the banter already between the two is great and any attention that promotes golf has to be a good thing.”
Power had bogeyed his penultimate hole but overall, he was delighted, and in his very first FedEx Cup showdown event, to match Woods score of a level par 71.
“After the anxiety of last Sunday, I just felt so much more relaxed stepping onto the first tee and that’s the more relaxed I’ve felt in a long while,” he said.
“I just feel like I am playing with house money and that is so different for me compared to the last couple of years as I have always been hanging around the bubble of making the Play-Offs, so now I have a shot of progressing hopefully to Boston next week. So, to be part of the Play-Offs for a first time in my career is pretty cool.”
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