Power starts well in Minneapolis as struggling Dustin Johnson withdraws
BLAINE, MINNESOTA - JULY 23: Richy Werenski of the United States plays his shot from the 18th tee during the first round of the 3M Open on July 23, 2020 at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Seamus Power opened with a 68 to lie five shots off the lead in $6.6 million 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Minneapolis.
The West Waterford man (33) made four birdies and just one bogey in a three-under-par round to share 27th place behind leader Richy Werenski, who shot an eight-under 63 to lead by a stroke from Michael Thompson with defending champion Matthew Wolff, Max Homa, Bo Hoag, Tony Finau, Ryan Moore, Xinjun Zhang and Nick Watney tied for third after 65’s.
Seamus Power. Image: PGA Tour
The Tooraneena man had 32 putts on the day but he hit 12 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens to lie seventh for strokes gained from the tee.
He was less effective with his irons, frequently leaving himself more than 35 feet from the hole. But he kept a three-putt off the card and missed just one of 18 putts inside 10 feet.
Finau, Moore, Zhang and Watney shot six-under 65’s to lead by a shot from Kyle Stanley, Brendon de Jonge, Talor Gooch and Patrick Rodgers as Dustin Johnson shot 78 and withdrew with a back injury.
Johnson won the Travelers Championship two weeks ago but posted a brace of 80’s in the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village last week.
Starting on the back nine, the former world No 1 made a quadruple-bogey nine at the 18th to turn in 42.
He made no mention of his back after his round and blamed his iron play for his recent troubles.
“It's just my iron play,” Johnson said. “I feel like I'm driving it well, but the iron play, first six or seven holes hit it close and then the rest of the day kind of struggled a little bit with iron play. Kind of the same last week, I just struggled with my iron play and makes it difficult.”