Seamus Power has withdrawn from this week’s American Express Championship with back trouble but hopes to be fully fit in a fortnight for the rest of the West Coast Swing.

The West Waterford man (37) had high hopes of making a fast start to the season after enduring a slow start to 2024 following an injury hit 2023.

He fully recovered from the hip injury that wrecked the latter half of 2023 and cost him his chance to make the Ryder Cup in Rome.

But while he suffered a back problem in last November’s season-ending RSM Classic that forced to withdraw during the second round, he felt fully fit for the 2025 season.

However, he complained of more back trouble during the first round of the Sony Open where he struggled from the tee and failed to make a birdie in an opening three over 73 before adding a second round 72 to miss the cut by eight shots.

As a result he withdrew from this week’s $8.5 million American Express Championship at La Quinta in California at the weekend and headed home to Las Vegas for treatment.

“Seamus’s back started bothering him on Thursday during the Sony Open,” Power’s agent explained. 

“He decided it was best to return to Las Vegas to work with his trainer, ensuring he’s fully prepared for the rest of the West Coast swing.”

The Tooraneena man was hoping to play the American Express, but he had always planned to skip next week’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines and play the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the WM Phoenix Open and the Genesis Invitational.

While Riviera Country Club escaped in the wildfires in Los Angeles, it remains to be seen if the Genesis Invitational can go ahead as planned given the devastation caused to the surrounding area in Pacific Palisades.

The injury is a blow to the world number 127’s hopes of getting the season off to a fast start and winning a third PGA Tour title he believes would put him in contention for a Ryder Cup debut.

“Right now, I wouldn’t be in the Ryder Cup conversation,” he said last month. “But if I get to Atlanta (for the Tour Championship), I might have a chance of being in the mix come September, so that’s gonna be the goal. 

“If I can reach some of my statistical and result goals, I figure I’ll be very close to the team.”