Seamus Power got his first look at Augusta National from inside the ropes on Sunday and had one word for the hallowed ground.
“Incredible,” said Power, who made his Masters debut yesterday at the age of 35. “It’s one of those places where I was lucky enough to be five or six times before but never played it. It’s just so far beyond expectations. The course is in fantastic condition. I can’t wait to play.”
Power, who got a two-over-par round of 74 on the first day, said he expected the greens to present the most formidable challenge.
“You can see the course on TV for the most part but television doesn’t do justice to the slopes and the complexity of some of the greens. That’s kind of the thing I’m trying to learn. You think it’s two feet and you look back up and it could be eight, nine feet. It just breaks more than you might think.
“It’s going to be a challenge. There’s going to be pin positions I’ve never seen before, and I’m sure the conditions are going to change a lot as the week goes on. So, it’s going to be adjusting on the fly and talking it out with Simon [Keelan, his caddie] and seeing the best we can do.”
Power qualified for the Masters by virtue of his standing within the top 50 on the Official World Golf Rankings (he’s 41st). He took off last week after having played well in the Dell Match Play, in which he made it out of his bracket to the elimination rounds. He lost to eventual champion and now World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in the round of 8.
On Friday afternoon, he was battling to make the cut, having slipped to + 6, but rallied with two birdies and was heading to the 18th tee as the e-zine was sent out on + 4 and thus in with a real chance to make the cut.
