Power hits 66 in Travelers as Harrington posts 68 and adds The Island to Irish Open shortlist
Pádraig Harrington. Picture: PGA of America
Seamus Power got off to a flying start in his bid for a maiden PGA Tour win with a superb opening 66 in the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.
The West Waterford star (32) made over 90-feet of putts in a five-birdie round to lie just two shots behind Ryan Armour, Bronson Burgoon, Kyoung-Hoon Lee, Mackenzie Hughes, Zach Sucher and Lahinch-bound Abraham Ancer on four-under par.
Pádraig Harrington opened with a two-under 68 as the European Tour continued its search for a venue for the 2020 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, with the Dubliner the likely host during his Ryder Cup captaincy year.
The three-time major champion would succeed Paul McGinley as host and The Island is on a list of potential venues being considered by the powers at Wentworth.
Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links was one of the front-runners before it was put on the market recently and until its future ownership is decided, an Irish Open may have to wait.
The Island, which co-hosted strokeplay qualifying for the Amateur Championship with Portmarnock earlier this week, ticks many boxes as it's a quality links in the capital.
The club recently approved plans to invest around €1 million in a major redesign of its front nine while the involvement of Fingal County Council is considered key to its chances of landing the $7 million Rolex Series event.
The Island's Gavin Moynihan continued his build-up to next month's Irish Open at Lahinch by taking advantage of the par-fives and carding an eagle at the 18th and birdies at the fifth and 11th in a two-under 70 in the weather-delayed BMW International Open in Munich. Scores
The Portrane native (24) was tied for 22nd when play was suspended due to darkness following a three-hour lightning delay.
The Island
Martin Kaymer fired a bogey-free 67 to share second place with England's Oliver Wilson, just one stroke behind clubhouse leader Andrea Pavan of Italy, who made five birdies and an eagle before finishing with a bogey six.
"I had three crucial putts today to keep momentum on my side," said Kaymer, who thrived on the new greens at Golfclub München Eichenried. "They are fantastic. I really enjoyed putting. If you made a good putt, it would go in.
"In the past, you would need to hit it really close to have a chance, so this is good having confidence with the putter."
Michael Hoey and Paul Dunne left themselves work to do to make the cut, however, after posting two-over 74s.
On the Challenge Tour, Derry's Ruaidhri McGee and Whitehead's John Ross Galbraith were inside the top 64 who will qualify for the matchplay stages of the Andalucía Costa del Sol Match Play 9 in Spain today.
McGee was joint 21st after a one-under 70 — just three shots behind England's Marcus Mohr and Dale Whitnell, Frenchman Ugo Coussaud, Australian Jordan Zunic and Sweden's Simon Forsström — with Galbraith 46th after a 72. Scores
Tramore's Robin Dawson has work to do after carding a five-over 76 in high winds at Valle Romano Golf in Estepona.
He fared better than Clement Berardo, who was disqualified after he ran out of golf balls.
The Frenchman was unable to complete his round after losing the last ball in his bag on the 16th having made a quadruple-bogey nine on the first hole before bogeying the sixth and eighth to hit the turn in 41.
He then double-bogeyed the 10th and dropped further shots at the 14th and 15th before finally running out of balls on the par-five 16th.
At the KPMG Women's PGA at Hazeltine National in Minnesota, Stephanie Meadow is tied 62nd after a three over 75 with Leona Maguire tied 116th after making six bogeys in a six-over 78.
Out in three over par on the back nine, Meadow birdied her 15th hole but dropped another shot at the par-three eight to end her day seven strokes behind Hannah Green, who shot a four-under 68 to lead by a shot from England’s Mel Reid and South Korea's Hyo Joo Kim.
They posted a three-under 69s as defending champion Sung Hyun Park and compatriots Amy Yang and In-Kyung Kim, American Annie Park and Thailand's Ariya Jutanugaran shot 70s to share fourth place.
Meanwhile, the European Tour has named former Premier League CEO Richard Scudamore and ex-Wimbledon and RFU CEO Ian Ritchie as part of a new six-man "Ryder Cup Committee" designed to enhance the event's commercial and brand value.
They join Paul McGinley, European Tour CEO Keith Pelley and Ryder Cup Director Guy Kinnings on a committee chaired by European Tour board member, Sir Damon Buffini.
