Rory McIlroy was one of the first to tweet congratulations to West Waterford's Seamus Power on his breakthrough win in the Web.com Tour on Sunday.
But even if McIlroy is not in a position to offer the 29-year old former amateur rival an invitation to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at The K Club, both men know that it’s only a matter of time before they rub shoulders on the PGA Tour.
Power holed two crucial 15 footers on the last two greens – for birdie at the 17th and a par at he last – as he closed with a five under 67 in the United Leasing & Finance Championship in Indiana to set the clubhouse target at 12 under par.
He then looked on as his rivals fell away down the stretch and he clinched a one-shot win that gives him a great chance of finishing among the Top 25 money winners on the second tier US tour that gain automatic promotion to the PGA Tour for the 2016-17 season.
Very excited
“It’s huge,” Power said after a cheque for $108,000 catapulted him to seventh in the money list with $131,733, just $30,000 short of the total it took to secure a PGA Tour card last year.
“In terms of the money list and that sort of thing, it’s a huge step for me. I am very excited.
“I was just trying to post a number and hope for the best. I knew the finish was playing very, very difficult, so to pick one up at 17 was a huge bonus. Then I got a good up and down at the last after a poor second shot. . . It’s a stepping stone for where I’m trying to be. But it’s a huge step, so I’m excited.”
“There are 21 tournaments and 25 cards so just looking at past results, there are very few guys who get a card without winning. So to get that the win is huge, especially this early in the year. . . It gives me a lot of confidence going forward.”
At 29, Power might appear to be a slow burner but he’s confident he’ll get his chance to be reunited with McIlroy soon, even if he doesn’t get an Irish Open invitation.
“The average age for a PGA Tour rookie is up at around 30 years old . . . I am an awful lot closer to the PGA Tour today than I was a week ago.”
“I think $160,000 is the minimum I need so the higher you finish the better chance you have and the more starts you get next year,” he said. As for the Irish Open, where he has already played three times, that too will come in time.
“All those Walker Cup guys turning pro deserve a spot,” Power said. “If I get in, absolutely fantastic, I’d love to play. But if I don’t I’ve got plenty to aim for out here.”
