The Olympics Games must not have even touched Seamus Power’s radar in late April as he headed into the United Leasing and Finance Championship on the web.com Tour, the second-tier US circuit, ranked 727th in the world.
But one man’s loss is another man’s gain. His first professional win, coupled with the unlikely triple withdrawal from Lowry, McIlroy and McDowell meant that the Waterford man would represent Ireland in Rio.
The Irish team would leave the Olympics empty-handed but halfway through Sunday, a front-nine of 30 shots from the underdog Power would give us all hope of a bronze medal before he eventually faded to tied 15th place.
Power has plied his trade in the US and had a low profile here, so much so that he did not receive an invite to the Irish Open in May. As Power looks set for the PGA Tour next year, it’s time to get to know and embrace our new Irish golfing star, who is here to stay.
The Power Drive 