Seamus Power believes his top form is within reach, though he anticipates a short break before securing a consistent run of events on the PGA Tour.
His performance at the Valspar Championship in Florida didn’t meet expectations, concluding with rounds of 70 and 72, placing him tied for 30th at two-under-par, nine strokes behind victor Matt Fitzpatrick.
“It’s disappointing because my game is right there,” Power commented, noting his inability to secure a spot in this week’s Texas Children’s Houston Open and the probable need to Monday qualify for the Valero Texas Open next week.
“I’m just not quite connecting all the pieces,” he added. “It’s frustrating because there’s plenty of good play with very few significant errors.”
His aspirations for a strong Sunday finish were hampered by double bogeys on the second and fourth holes of Innisbrook’s challenging Copperhead Course. Despite this, he demonstrated resilience, carding three birdies over his final ten holes to finish with a 72.
“Earlier today, I just made a couple of errors that compounded,” he explained. “And even yesterday, I was one under when it could have easily been three, four, or five under.”
“Today, I finished one over, but I could have easily been two or three under. It’s not a weekend of ‘what ifs’ so much as consistent, decent play that just hasn’t fully clicked yet.”
The 39-year-old lost his fully exempt status last season after failing to secure a spot within the FedExCup top 100. However, he’s shown promising signs of returning to peak form this year, making six out of seven cuts and contending at the Farmers Insurance Open.
“I’m playing very steady and consistent golf,” he stated, “but this week, I couldn’t quite ignite a spark, where those key putts suddenly drop.”
“It was one of those weeks where the crucial 15-20 foot putts, which can elevate a good round to a great one, just weren’t falling.”
“Ultimately, it’s a challenging course, and it’s difficult to build momentum or make a significant charge. You’re constantly trying to convert those putts, and I just didn’t sink enough.”
With the Masters fast approaching and three Signature Events slated between it and the PGA Championship, Power recognizes he might need to wait until THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson in mid-May to embark on a consistent run of tournaments.
“It’s been a demanding stretch on the road, playing four tournaments consecutively,” he noted. “So I’ll rest for a few days and reassess.”
“I’ll attempt the Monday qualifier for the Valero next week, as it seems my current ranking won’t grant direct entry. From there, it’s a long sequence of elevated events.”
“Therefore, unless I can make something happen, I anticipate a relatively quiet couple of months.”
“However, I know it will become very busy from the Byron Nelson tournament onwards. It looks like a packed schedule, so we’ll prepare accordingly.”
“Even with Brooks Koepka playing, I’m currently the sixth alternate for Houston and possibly fifth for San Antonio, making direct entry unlikely unless several players withdraw.”
Regarding the tournament’s conclusion, England’s Matt Fitzpatrick (31) carded a final round of three-under 68, sinking a 30-foot putt on the 15th and a 14-footer on the final hole for birdies, establishing the winning score.
Fitzpatrick began the day three strokes adrift of Sungjae Im, yet his impressive 11-under total secured his third PGA TOUR victory by a single shot over David Lipsky, who posted a 70.
