Power in top 50 hot seat after falling to 50th in the world

Séamus Power

SÉAMUS POWER faces three weeks in the hottest seat in golf after his missed cut in the Arnold Palmer Invitational saw him fall three spots to 50th in the world.

The Tooraneena man (35) must remain in the world’s top 50 after the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play on March 28 if he’s to make his Masters debut the following week.

He’s got an excellent opportunity to consolidate his place at this week’s $20 million Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, where he’s joined by Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry.

But while it’s not in his plans, he can also add next week’s Valspar Championship in Tampa to his schedule before making his World Golf Championship debut in Austin.

“I’ve played TPC Sawgrass and Tampa before and I like both courses,” Power said. “I think it’s a great test. It’s not particularly long and has holes going in all directions. So I think it’s a super course and with the overseed, it will be impeccable.

“Rankings won’t have any bearing on whether or not I go to Tampa. So I will see how I feel more than anything. But I like the course and I’ve had a few good rounds there.”

On the DP World Tour, Jonathan Caldwell plays the MyGolfLife Open in South Africa as Leona Maguire competes in the Honda LPGA Thailand.

Meanwhile, Flogas is the new title sponsor of the Irish Women’s and Girls’ Amateur Open and the Irish Mixed Foursomes.

The Louth-based company will sponsor both events alongside the Irish Men’s Amateur Open in 2022 and 2023.