Being an early player on the golf course has its benefits, as it did for Séamus Power who literally trailed behind a group of USGA officials inspecting potential pin positions. He played his first play at the back nine, while the greens were still fresh from watering with portable hoses. This all happens at the exclusive US Open, a challenge unparalleled, constantly testing players, particularly at the sand-based course, Pinehurst No. 2. Here, players attempting to make shots to the small, tilted greens face uncertainty akin to placing a bet on a slot machine, in anticipation of the unpredictable outcome.
Power drew the attention of Bob MacIntyre upon completing the 18th hole, where he’d been putting from the run-off area to a series of circular rubber mats that marked the putting surface. The exchange that took place revolved around how to possibly make successful birdies under the challenging conditions presented by the 124th US Open. They concurred on the difficulty that lies ahead, prompting a light-hearted yet nervous chuckle. Power shared his view on the intimidating aspect of the course, pointing to the challenging pin placements among other things.
Power, making his third appearance in the US Open, voiced approval for the challenging course. His previous stints include a tied-12th finish at Brookline in 2022 and a missed cut at the Los Angeles Country Club last year. He admitted his fondness for the Pinehurst course, despite its increased difficulty. Power, native to Waterford, qualified for Pinehurst and appears to be fully recovering from a hip injury that marred the latter part of his last season and heavily hints at his readiness and eagerness for the upcoming tournament.
“My performance has been quite stable lately which seems quite bizarre. In the beginning of the year, my putting was unusually weak, which felt strange as it has always been my strength. However, currently, my iron shots are the best they’ve ever been while playing tournaments and my putting is gradually improving.
I am genuinely looking forward to forthcoming games. I had a commendable performance on some of the most challenging golf courses recently. The gameplay has been nearly flawless. The strategy is about knowing where to hit the ball, figuring out which targets are realistic and which to avoid. It’s a puzzle that must be cracked.”