Mickelson chasing 44th PGA Tour win as Power's struggles continue
Seamus Power goes through his paces at PING HQ last year
Seamus Power has work to do to get his season back on track after he missed his fifth cut in a row and his sixth in seven PGA Tour starts this season at the Desert Classic in California.
The West Waterford man added a one-under 71 at the Nicklaus Tournament Course to rounds of 74 and 73 to miss the nine-under par cut by 11 strokes at La Quinta.
Projected 170th in the FedExCup standings, he will have a chance to turn things around in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines next week when he joins Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods in a star-studded field.
He’s been working with new coach Nick Bradley since late last year but so far the results have yet to come and Power is 220th for strokes gained from tee to green and tied 239th for driving accuracy. With his strokes gained putting numbers is well below last year’s excellent return, he needs a positive week soon.
As for the leaders, Phil Mickelson shot a six-under 66 on the tough Stadium Course to lead by two-strokes on 22-under par from Canada’s Adam Hadwin, who posted a 65 on the Nicklaus Tournament Course.
The left-hander (48) is seeking a wire-to-wire win and his 44th PGA Tour victory in 596 starts.
Asked what he would relish most about today’s final round, Mickelson said: “Having that chance to win, having that butterflies and the nervousness and the excitement and the opportunity to compete and feel that pressure.
“That's why we all play, it's what I miss and have strived to gain and I really enjoy that. So it's fun to be in the final group and have that opportunity, to have that feeling.”
Spain’s Jon Rahm is six strokes behind Mickelson on 16-under par while Justin Rose is ten shots adrift after a third consecutive 68, tied for 29th but guaranteed to hold on to the world number one ranking after second-ranked Brooks Koepka failed to win in Abu Dhabi.
