Power hits the gas on moving day in Scottsdale
Seamus Power . Photo by Montana Pritchard/PGA of America
Seamus Power has given himself a chance to capture more valuable FedEx Cup and Ryder Cup qualifying points after he fired a five-under 66 to move up to tied 20th heading into the final round of the $20 million WM Phoenix Open.
The West Waterford man (35) is eight strokes behind Scottie Scheffler, who can overtake Rory McIlroy if he wins, and the Holywood star, tied 28th on four-under, finishes worse than third alone.
Masters champion Scheffler carded a three-under 68 to lead by two strokes from Canadian Nick Taylor, who shot 67, and world number three Jon Rahm, who rallied with three birdies in his last six holes to post a 68.
It promises to be an exciting final-round tussle with Jordan Spieth and Adam Hadwin just three shots behind, with Tyrrell Hatton, Sungjae Im, Rickie Fowler, Jason Day and Xander Schauffele lurking only four behind.
Scheffler can also go to number one if he finishes second alone, McIlroy finishes worse than 36th alone, and Jon Rahm doesn't win.
"I'm in position now," Scheffler said. "Something I talked about at the beginning of the week was I felt like I've been on the outside looking in on Sundays. To be in the final group with a two-shot lead, I believe, is definitely a position I want to be in. I'm looking forward to tomorrow."
As for Rahm, he can go to world number one if he wins and McIlroy finishes worse than tied second with two others.
He's also a local resident and as a graduate of Arizona State University, he'd love to win what is now his home event.
"I mean, every win's pretty good, I'm not going to lie. I would love to be able to do what I did in Spain," Rahm said. "I was Spanish Amateur champion. Won a couple of different ages. Being able to close that chapter of my pro and amateur career by winning the Spanish Open as a pro was very sweet.
"So, as the ASU Thunderbird champion, I would love to be able to win here again in what's now home to me and my family. I don't know if it would be added or not. I think because of the crowd and being home, it will feel obviously extremely nice. But it will probably be very similar to what I've experienced in Spain. So hopefully I can get it done."
Rahm can also go to world number one in the unlikely event he finishes second alone, McIlroy finishes worse than 47th alone and Scheffler doesn't win.
Tied 28th at halfway, McIlroy endured a rollercoaster day at TPC Scottsdale, mixing three birdies with a double bogey six at the 14th, where he drove out of bounds, in a level par outward nine.
The world number one then made three birdies and two bogeys coming home in one-under for a 70 that leaves him tied 28th, ten shots behind Scheffler on three-under.
As Shane Lowry returned to the course with six holes of his second round to complete and made five bogeys to card a 76 and miss the level par cut on nine-over par, Power was clinical in his third round later in the day.
Starting on the back nine, he birdied the 10th and followed a bogey at the short 12th with birdies at the stadium 16th and then driveable 17th to get back to three-under, then picked up further shots at the third, fifth and sixth.
At five-under, he's just four shots outside the top 10 in a $20 million event where the winner will take home $3.6 million.
