Seamus Power got off to a hot start and carded a five-under 67 in the first round of the Houston Open in Texas.

The West Waterford man (32) offset two bogeys when he made five birdies and chipped in for an eagle three at the 13th (his fourth) to share seventh place at the Golf Club of Houston.

Playing in the 126-150 category this season after losing full playing rights in August, Power is just three strokes adrift of Austin Cook and Talor Gooch, whose eight-under 64’s gave them a one shot lead over Sepp Straka.

Power missed the cut in his first two starts of the 2019-20 campaign despite shooting in the sixties in three of four rounds.

He painfully missed out in the Sanderson Farms Championship when he opened with a 65 and was eight-under for the tournament with just seven holes of his weather-delayed second round to complete

When he awoke following day to resume his second round, he felt unwell and made three double bogeys and three bogeys in his last seven holes and carded a 79 to miss the cut.

His opening 65 in Texas was one of his best ball striking rounds — third (+3.13) for stroke gained on approach fourth for proximity and eighth for strokes gained off the tee.