<p>Mark Power hits a bunker shot on the 2nd hole during Foursomes at the 2021 Walker Cup at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Fla. on Saturday, May 8, 2021. (Scott Halleran/USGA</p>
Mark Power holed out for a spectacular eagle two as he fired a five-under 66 to survive the first-round cut in the LIV Golf Promotions Event in Saudi Arabia.
There was no luck for the other four Irishmen in action at Riyadh Golf Club, where only the top 20 and ties progressed to Friday’s second round on four-under or better.
But Power was thrilled to make it through, even though he knows he must do it all over again as the scores are reset for round two.
“Yeah, I suppose we're completely resetting, so just to understand that today's round is behind me and have to do more of the same tomorrow,” said Power, who holed out from 160 yards from the rough at the 13th for an eagle two to get to four-under before picking up another shot at the 15th.
“Hopefully get off to a fast start and just keep plugging away, but yeah, it's an interesting format, a first for me anyway, so just trying to enjoy it.”
Malone amateur Matt McClean missed out by a shot after carding a three-under 68 as Alex Maguire and Liam Nolan shot one under 70s and Max Kennedy a one over 72 to also miss out.
With all scores reset for Friday’s second round where the automatic qualifiers join the top 20 and ties after the first round, Power knows he most start from scratch again.
In order to remain in the hunt for one spot on a LIV Golf team awarded to the winner or an International Series exemption for those who finish in the top 10 after 72 holes, he must make the top 20 who qualify for Saturday’s 36-hole shootout.
“It would be incredible, life-changing, you could nearly say,” Power said of what it would mean to win or even finish in the top ten.
“But I suppose I'm very early in my career at the minute, so I am still trying to find my feet, learn from experiences and stuff. But yeah, it would be an incredible opportunity. But there is still a lot of golf left, so just take it one step at a time.”
As for his round, he was pleased to putt solidly and finish on his round well after making that eagle two at the 13th.
“I was two-under up until that point, so it kind of gave me a bit of a cushion, but at the same time, there's some tricky holes coming in, so just had to grind it out a little bit,” he said. “Putted pretty nice, so very happy.”
Power birdied the seventh and 10th to get to two under but his two at the 13th was key.
“I hit a three-wood through the fairway on 13,” said the Kilkenny man, who has limited status on the Challenge Tour for 2025.
“I actually thought it was perfect and was disappointed it was in the rough, but it ended up being lucky because the pin was right at the back, so I could kind of run one up to the back pin.
“But it was still a heavy lie, so I just wanted to try and hit it on the green and let it run up.
“It came out perfect, and it just caught the left slope and disappeared. Yeah, it was a nice one.”
As for his hopes for 2025, he’s keen to gain as much experience as possible.
“It's a very good opportunity,” Power said before the event. “I suppose I played mainly on Challenge Tour this past year, and I did find it tricky. The standard was tough, but I felt like my good stuff was definitely good enough to compete there. So I suppose this is another step up, but one that I feel like I can definitely back myself to do.
“Put four good rounds together and you could open a few good doors and with LIV Golf, there are obviously a lot of big names — a lot of talent. So I think it can only help by getting there or even exposing myself to these opportunities.
“If it works out this week, great, but if not, it's hopefully a minor step along a long journey.”
He added: “I still have a small category on the Challenge Tour, so I'd say I'd be playing a mix of invites and events off my category on the Challenge Tour and try and progress that way. But it's still early; it's very hard to plan stuff.
“One good week can change things. I might play a few mini-tour events at the start of the year to get the competitive juices flowing. But yeah, we'll just take it week by week.”
Korea’s Jeunghun Wang shot a seven under 64 to top the first round leaderboard by a shot from South Africa’s lan Snyman, Germany’s Max Rottluff, Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, Japan’s Kazuki Hoga and American Bo Hoag.
Power’s 66 left him tied for seventh as 21 players made it on four under or better.
McClean tied for 22nd, a shot outside the cut after a 68 with Maguire and Nolan 37th after their 70s and Kennedy joint 52nd in the 64 man first round field after a 72 featuring three birdies and four bogeys.
Article Link: Eagle lands for Power as he hits route 66 to keep LIV dream alive in Saudi Arabia - News - Irish Golf Desk