Power continues fine form with 66 in Connecticut
Seamus Power
Seamus Power continued his rich vein of form when he opened with a four-under-par 66 to lie just three strokes off the lead in the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.
The West Waterford man, who has recorded two top-10s and a top 20 in his last four starts on the PGA Tour, Monday qualified for the event and then produced six birdies to share ninth place.
He’s three strokes behind Kramer Hickok and Japan’s Satoshi Kodaira, who shot seven-under 63s to lead by a shot from Talor Gooch.
Power was ranked second for strokes gained from tee to green and first for strokes gained approach.
He might have led but he three-putted for bogey from 64 feet at the 12th and for par from 46 feet at the 13th, making just 48 feet of putt so high was the quality of his approach play.
Ranked 166th in the FedEx Cup standings, he’s projected to move up to 155th if he maintains his position but will have his sights set on a maiden win in his 12th start of the season and his 103rd PGA Tour start.
The 34-year old from Tooraneena has seven career top 10s finishes and made $2.95 million on the PGA Tour alone.
He has won another $374,416 on the Korn Ferry Tour, winning the United Leasing & Finance Championship on the second-tier tour in 2016.
He played college golf for East Tennessee State University, where he won five events, including two Southern Conference titles as a freshman and a senior.
Things to Know
Satoshi Kodaira makes six birdies, one eagle in bid to become the season’s second Japanese winner (Hideki Matsuyama/2021 Masters Tournament)
Kramer Hickok offsets a bogey at his first hole with eight birdies, good for a PGA TOUR career-low 7-under 63
Following missed cuts in both previous Travelers Championship starts, Talor Gooch opens with a bogey-free 6-under 64
In his first start at the Travelers Championship, Maverick McNealy opens with a bogey-free 5-under 65
World No. 2 Dustin Johnson birdies his last two holes to open with an even-par 70 in effort to join Phil Mickelson as players to successfully defend a Travelers Championship title
2001, 2002 Travelers Championship winner Phil Mickelson sank 156’0” of putts on his way to a 1-under 69
Kramer Hickok (T1/-7)
Offset a bogey at his first hole of the day (No. 10) with eight birdies to post a PGA TOUR career-low 7-under 63 (previously 64; R1/2018 Mayakoba Golf Classic presented by UNIFIN/T29)
Hit 10 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens in regulation
On only other occasion to hold an 18-hole lead/co-lead on TOUR, finished T29 at the 2018 Mayakoba Golf Classic
In only previous Travelers Championship start, finished T60 in 2019
Remains in search of his first career TOUR victory in his 68th start; T8 at the 2020 Bermuda Championship earlier this season stands as his best finish
Satoshi Kodaira (T1/-7)
Beginning on No. 10, Tokyo, Japan native offset one bogey with six birdies and an eagle at the par-4 second hole (from 81 yards)
The 63 ties his career-low score from round two of the 2018 RBC Heritage (won)
Has never been higher than T3 after any first, second or third round on TOUR prior to this week
In two previous Travelers Championship starts, missed the cut in 2018 and 2019 (+17 combined)
Following four consecutive missed cuts on TOUR this season, finished inside the top 20 in each of his last three starts before this week; remains in search of his first top-10 finish of the season in his 21st start
Lone PGA TOUR victory in 80 starts came at the 2018 RBC Heritage
Additional Notes
Following missed cuts in his two previous Travelers Championship starts in 2018 and 2020, Talor Gooch is solo-third after a bogey-free 6-under 64; seeks his fourth top-5 finish of the season and first since THE PLAYERS Championship (T5)
Making his first start in the Travelers Championship, Maverick McNealy birdied four of his last eight holes en route to a bogey-free 5-under 65 (T4); most recent of two top-10 finishes this season was T4/RBC Heritage
Making his eighth start at the Travelers Championship, 2001-02 champion Phil Mickelson (T45/-1) sank 156’0” of putts, highlighted by a 63’8” birdie putt at No. 9 and 40’0” par save at No. 10; in two starts at TPC River Highlands since 2003, missed the cut in 2019 and finished T24 in 2020
Patrick Cantlay, whose 10-under 60 in round two of the 2011 event stands as the lowest score by an amateur in PGA TOUR history, opened with 2-under 68 (T25) in his seventh Travelers Championship start; T11 finish in 2020 marks his best showing
Defending Travelers Championship winner Dustin Johnson birdied his last two holes to open with an even-par 70 in his bid to become the second player to successfully defend his title (Phil Mickelson/2001-02)
Highest-ranked players in the Official World Golf Ranking playing this week: Dustin Johnson/No. 2 (T76/E), Bryson DeChambeau/No. 6 (T45/-1), Patrick Cantlay/No. 7 (T25/-2), Brooks Koepka/No. 8 (T45/-1), Patrick Reed/No. 9 (T45/-1)
Kevin Kisner (T76/E) made 18 pars in round one
