Séamus Power excited ahead of US Open with his game in a 'pretty good spot'
Green A On Seamus Of Us Practice Gregory Open Prior At Picture: Round Ireland 14th Pinehurst Shamus/getty To Power The Putts The Images During
Séamus Power used to live just a couple hours away from Pinehurst in Charlotte, so he’s familiar with a number of the sandhills courses and the Donald Ross style that so many of them try to emulate.
Pinehurst No. 2, however, has slipped Power’s playlist until he ventured out onto the back nine early Tuesday morning. It was an illuminating experience – and he still hadn’t seen the front nine where many of Ross’ most diabolical green creations reside.
“That is brutal,” was Power’s quick first assessment of Ross’ most heralded masterpiece.
“It’s going to be tough and it is only going to get tougher. I mean, I was following the guy that was watering so it was soft. … But it’s a gorgeous course. Visually, it is so unique, certainly unique to this area, and it will be fun but different.
“It is just fact you’re seeing it for the first time it is one of those courses that has that ominous kind of feel to it so we will see how we do with some good prep. It will probably play as easy as it is going to on Thursday morning.” Power’s game has turned a bit corner in recent weeks, with his name popping up on leaderboards at the RBC Heritage and Wells Fargo Championship. He navigated his way through 36-hole final qualifying to earn a spot in his third straight U.S. Open.
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“There’s been a lot of good stuff and then poor round here and there kills you,” he said. “You just don’t get away with that any more. It’s like you are dropping out of it, three good rounds isn’t going to get you much. That was loads of fun last week (at qualifying before Memorial) but it ended up being a tiring week but it was worth it to be here and I am looking forward to giving it another good shot this week. Yeah, two tough courses in a row.
“My game is in a pretty good spot. It’s so strange. My putter was very, very cold out of the gate at the start of the year, which is odd for me. That’s usually the strongest part. But my iron play so far has been the best it’s been on tour, and now my putter is finally coming along. So I’m actually excited about it. I’ve played some of the tougher courses recently really well. It’s just almost been very good. So I feel actually pretty good about it.”
Pinehurst No. 2 will test Power in ways he’s never been tested before. He’ll only have one practice round on each side of the course, giving him a limited window to figure out the best way to play some of the most strategic holes in golf. Missing in the right places is critical because players will be presented with a wealth of recovery options from the wire grassy waste areas and shaved greenside options that can include anything from putting to wedges to fairway metals to long irons. Making the wrong choice at the wrong time can lead to more than just a bad score – it can leave players looking a little embarrassed.
“You are going to have a couple of moments where you are going to look like a bit of an idiot out there,” power admitted. “But it is going to be the same for everyone. That is going to be the key because there are so many tough shots that you’re going to have to hit really good shots.
“It is going to be a different sort of challenge, trying to do what you can, trying to avoid big numbers, it is going to be tough to get many of them back. It’s going to be tough but I am looking forward to it.”
