Bunker busting eagle two for Seamus Power
Seamus Power
Seamus Power may remember the bunker shot he holed for an eagle two in San Antonio in April as the turning point in his season.
The West Waterford man was heading for his fifth missed cut in his rookie season when he holed out from 63 feet for a two on the 348-yard fifth (his 14th) at the Valero Texas Open.
He then added four closing pars and signed for a second successive level par 72 to make the weekend on the level par mark.
Power made four bogeys and two birdies in his first 10 holes before holing out and as he's ranked 134th in the FedEx Cup standings, he needs some good weeks.
He will be in action next week with Kiwi Stephen Alker in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, which will be played in foursomes and fourball format.
The event will continue to award FedExCup points and official money, and will count as an official victory for the members of the winning team.
As such, both players will receive a two-year winner’s exemption and an eligibility into Invitational fields, including the Tournament of Champions and THE PLAYERS Championship. Additionally, the PGA of America will include both members of the winning team in the Tournament Winners category for the PGA Championship.
As for the Valero Texas Open, Graeme McDowell added a 74 to his opening 68, falling 30 places to tied 36th on two-under par.
He's six shots behind Bud Cauley (66) and Tony Finau (65) who lead by one stroke from Australia's Cameron Smith (65), 51-year old Bob Estes (69), Kevin Chappel (68) and Robby Shelton (69) on eight-under par.
England's Ian Poulter missed the cut and therefore lost his full playing privileges on the PGA Tour.
"Golf is a funny game." https://t.co/Ak724uIbNA
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 21, 2017
Far from discouraged, the 41-year old said he will "come back stronger than ever" after finishing two shots outside the mark on two-over par.
Poulter needed to win at least $30,639 - equivalent to a top-30 finish - to retain his car but the 2008 Open runner-up said: "It doesn't mean you're never going to see me again."
He later added on Twitter: "You don't get to number five in the world and help lift a few Ryder Cups and disappear. You come back stronger and more determined than ever."
After missing the second half of last season with a foot injury, Poulter started this season needing to earn either 218 FedEx Cup points or $348,000 in 10 events to retain his full playing privileges.
He had accrued 155 points and prize money of $317,010 before shooting rounds of 75 and 71 to miss the cut by two shots at TPC San Antonio.
