Rory McIlroy left feeling the heat at FedEx St Jude as Seamus powers on in Memphis
Seamus Power, despite facing the challenging conditions of sweltering heat, managed to outshine major champions Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, keeping his hopes for the FedEx Cup Play-Offs alive at the FedEx St Jude Championship in Memphis.
In the opening round, Lowry, who carded a level-par 70, struggled throughout the day but managed to stay in contention. McIlroy, hailing from Holywood, faced difficulties on the greens after an early eagle and required crucial birdies at the 16th and 18th holes to secure a two-under-par 68. This result was notable as it marked the first Play-Off event held at TPC Southwind. Both McIlroy, ranked third in the world, and Lowry, ranked tenth, are expected to advance to the BMW Championship in Denver next week, given their current standings. They will comfortably secure their positions in the top 50 players who qualify for the next stage of the FedEx Cup.
In contrast, Power, who is ranked 66th, faces a steeper challenge. To advance to the next Play-Off event, he may need to secure a top finish at the FedEx St Jude Championship. Power’s performance on Thursday was commendable; he carded a three-under-par 67 with four birdies and a single bogey, leaving him three shots behind the early leader, Chris Kirk. This performance has kept Power’s chances of moving forward very much alive.
Power remains optimistic and focused on his goal. He expressed his approach to the tournament, stating, “For me, I’m trying to be in contention going into the back nine on Sunday, and then I’ve got a chance at reaching all my goals.” The intense heat did not deter him; instead, he found ways to cool down, notably by plunging his hands into ice-filled coolers at the tees.
Reflecting on his mindset, Power added, “Look, it’s one of those ones. I don’t feel like I have much to lose. I either play very well and have a good tournament and go on to Denver, or I don’t. I felt a little tighter probably last week, because you felt like you had something to lose in my position. I feel like I have everything to gain this week.”
FedExCup leader Scottie Scheffler expressed his skepticism regarding the Play-Off system, calling it “silly” that players who may not have performed consistently throughout the season can potentially surpass him with a couple of strong weeks during the Play-Offs. Power, who has experienced struggles in the Play-Offs in previous years, is keen to leverage the volatility of the current system to his advantage.
Power recalled his own experiences and the system’s unpredictability, saying, “I saw Scottie’s comments about the Play-Offs yesterday and the last couple of years; I felt like that. And this year, being at 66, this is great. So it’s one of those things, you know. Three solid rounds and one low one, and just see what happens.” Last week, Power, who was ranked 69th before the Wyndham Championship, made a significant move up by finishing 28th, which allowed him to qualify for this week’s event.
In other golf news, the rain-delayed ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links saw Leona Maguire start her campaign with a one-over-par 73. She trails the clubhouse leader Minjee Lee by six strokes. Meanwhile, Lauren Walsh had a challenging round, shooting a 77.
