The 36-year-old has failed to crack the top 10 in 20 starts this year, and now the news has gotten even worse.
The way Seamus Power closed out the calendar year 2022, he must have assumed the best was yet to come. After securing his second PGA Tour title at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship in late October, Power then posted top-5 finishes at both the World Wide Technology Championship and the RSM Classic.
But 2023 has been a different story. The 36-year-old native of Waterford, Ireland, has failed to crack the top 10 in 20 starts this year, and now the news has gotten even worse: the East Tennessee State University product was forced to withdraw from this week’s Horizon Irish Open with a hip injury that will keep him out of action for at least two months.
This week’s Irish Open at the K Club in Kildare, Ireland, has drawn one of the DP World Tour’s strongest fields with Rory McIlroy, Tyrrell Hatton, Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee and Shane Lowry all vying for the title. The event will be played less than two hours from where Power grew up.
Thanks to his early-season success, Power made almost $4 million on the PGA Tour in 2022-23 and finished 41st in the FedEx Cup standings, a personal best. But the hip injury surfaced at the Genesis Scottish Open, where he was forced to withdraw, and he missed the cut the following week at the British Open at Royal Liverpool.
He then tied for last place at the first playoff event in Memphis and failed to qualify for the Tour Championship thanks to a rough showing at the BMW Championship, where he finished 48th out of 50 players.
Power did have one huge highlight in the spring, however, as he became the third player in history to make back-to-back holes-in-one in the Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club during Masters week.
The previous two players to accomplish the feat were Claude Harmon in 1968 (Nos. 4 and 5) and Toshi Izawa in 2002 (Nos. 5 and 6).
Editor’s note: This story was originally published April 10, 2022
Welcome to FTW Explains, a guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. Watching the Masters on Sunday and suddenly wondering why all the members and winners of the tournament at Augusta National wear those same green jackets and the origin story behind it? We’ve got you covered.
A look at the 18 holes of Augusta National and the flora they’re named after.
Editor’s note: This story was originally published April 4, 2022
If you’re a golf fan, you may know that each hole at Augusta National — where the Masters is played every year — is named after a flower or tree, some of which are present on the course where the world’s best golfers will tee it up this week.
It is well documented that the grounds of Augusta National Golf Club weren’t always a golf course but originally a nursery,” the story reads. “In 1853, Dennis Redmond purchased the 315-acre property and named it ‘Fruitland.’ He grew peaches, grapes, strawberries, apples and many other species of trees and shrubs. Mr. Redmond even started building a large house that he named ‘Fruitland Manor.'”
Louis and Prosper Berkmans eventually purchased Fruitland and the land, and when Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts later co-founded the club, they “asked some of the Berckmans family to come back to help landscape the course.”
So let’s take a look at photos from past Masters of each hole, and hopefully, I found shots that focus on the beautiful landscaping and the tributes to that former plant nursery.
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ESPN’s golf broadcast team reacts to Scott Scheffler admitting he ‘cried like a baby’ ahead of the final round of the Masters.
Scottie Scheffler’s victory at the Masters was a watershed moment for the 25-year-old Texan who reached World No. 1 in March. But perhaps the most memorable moment of the week happened away from the course before Scheffler reached the first tee on Sunday and it wasn’t disclosed until he shared it with the world during his winner’s press conference.
“I cried like a baby this morning,” he said. “I was so stressed out. I didn’t know what to do. I was sitting there telling (wife) Meredith, ‘I don’t think I’m ready for this. I’m not ready, I don’t feel like I’m ready for this kind of stuff, and I just felt overwhelmed.’ She told me, ‘Who are you to say that you are not ready? Who am I to say that I know what’s best for my life?’ And so what we talked about is that God is in control and that the Lord is leading me; and if today is my time, it’s my time. And if I shot 82 today, you know, somehow I was going to use it for His glory. Gosh, it was a long morning. It was long.”
Scottie Scheffler celebrates with his wife Meredith Scudder after winning the Masters golf tournament. (Photo: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)
Scheffler went on to shoot 71 that afternoon and claim his first major. He’ll be one of the favorites at the 104th PGA Championship next week at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Speaking on a media conference call, ESPN analysts Curtis Strange and Andy North and ESPN lead anchor Scott Van Pelt discussed Scheffler’s brutal honesty and what it reveals about a player who seemed cool, calm and collected in ripping off his first four wins over a span of six starts.
“That’s an honesty we don’t get very often. That, to me, was shocking that anybody admitted that that’s where they were. In today’s world of mental health and people understanding how important maybe letting those feelings be known,” said North, who has served as ESPN’s main golf analyst for nearly 30 years. “I thought it was quite amazing, but initially it was a little bit shocking that, whoa, in the old days, no one would ever admit to that. But I think that’s the beauty of so many of the younger players and athletes and people who are focusing on how important it is to have serious discussions about how you feel.”
“My first reaction is wow, why would you say something like that?” Strange said. “I’m not going to say I ever cried in the morning and almost was overcome with emotion, but I spent a long time in the bathroom more than once. Is that the same difference?”
Strange broke into laughter.
“Why would you say that?” Van Pelt interjected. “You’ve got a problem with a guy sharing his emotions? You’re telling people that you were on a toilet? No one wants to hear that.”
More laughter ensued.
“I thought it was awesome, Curtis, because here’s a guy that he has such a maturity that belies his age, and his outward, what he projects is that nothing fazes him,” Van Pelt said. “But here he is on that morning, and I think it’s that epiphany, that holy bleep moment. I’m in the last group, and I’m No. 1 in the world, and I’m supposed to win. Well, what if I don’t? Or am I really ready to do all this?”
“He was in Butler Cabin on Friday night,” Van Pelt continued, “and I asked him, I said, ‘Look, when you won in Phoenix and you won in Bay Hill, match play is different, but you weren’t leading.’ There’s a weight that comes with leading. I said, ‘I’m not trying to sell you on it’s bad to be up five on Friday. Of course it’s not. But now there’s expectation, and everyone’s looking at you.’
“It seems like come Sunday morning that weight landed firmly in his lap. I thought it was just fantastic that he shared how heavy it was. Then how did he respond? There he was in the Green Jacket. I just thought it gave you context that a guy who hadn’t shared with us much that he felt those things, and here he shared it with the world. Maybe it’s easier to do that when you’re wearing the jacket because now you can be truly honest about it. I thought it was really cool.”
It was certainly a revelation no one saw coming from Scheffler.
“Stuff like that is pretty cool. To have someone like that to reach out just to congratulate me is pretty special.”
Scottie Scheffler says becoming a Masters champion at age 25 is still just sinking in, but he’s experienced a few small perks along the way that have reminded him how cool it is to be the winner of the green jacket.
That included a handwritten letter from former U.S. President George W. Bush. Apparently 43’s handwriting was difficult for Scheffler to read.
“I hear he’s a good artist now. He’s got to do some work on his handwriting,” Scheffler said. “Stuff like that is pretty cool. To have someone like that to reach out just to congratulate me is pretty special. That’s probably kind of the only moments I’ve had where I kind of sit and reflect on what’s happened the past month and a half, two months. Obviously the Masters is such a different event than the rest of them. Just getting some messages like that from people I’ve looked up to for so long is really special.”
When Scheffler was asked to elaborate and name who sent some of the messages to him, he said, “I’m not really on social media. My wife has showed me a few things that people have posted, like Michael Phelps posted me in one of his stories, and then (Ezerkiel Elliott) from the Cowboys sent me a message. Just random stuff like that where I’m able to sit back – Michael Phelps is just insane. The guy is one of the greatest athletes ever. For him to reach out and post something about me or whatever is pretty cool.
“That’s kind of some of those moments where I’m able to sit back and kind of reflect on what happened and just be really grateful for it because stuff like that doesn’t come around too often. So it’s pretty special.”
Scheffler won the Masters on April 10, shooting a final-round 1-under 71, and beat Rory McIlroy by three strokes. In doing so, he became the fifth different world No. 1 player to leave Augusta National with a green jacket.
Pro golfers Laura Restrepo and Trevor Sluman had a life-changing experience at Augusta National.
Epson Tour player Laura Restrepo had a life-changing experience at the Masters two weeks ago.
As Tiger Woods made his way to the 14th tee, Restrepo and longtime boyfriend Trevor Sluman were among the few patrons who remained around Amen Corner.
While a Woods sighting in 2022 is particularly unforgettable, it paled in comparison to the events that followed.
“You’re not allowed to have a phone [on the grounds] but you can bring a camera on practice days,” Restrepo told epsontour.com. “We asked a guy that was standing nearby if he could take our picture. He said, ‘Of course. It’s a good thing you asked me because I’m a photographer.’ After taking it, he wandered down about 15 yards and Trevor thought that was a perfect in.
“He told me, ‘I’m going to ask him to retake it so you can see the green better.’ And I was like, ‘Sure.’ Trevor went over to the guy and must have told him that he was about to propose and if he would take pictures. I was standing by the green ready to take another picture and Trevor pulled out a ring. I was so shocked. I couldn’t believe it.”
Laura Restrepo and Trevor Sluman celebrate their engagement on Amen Corner during the 2022 Masters. (Photo: Laura Restrepo)
The couple met while playing collegiate golf at Louisville and started dating in 2014. Trevor, whose uncle Jeff Sluman won six times on the PGA Tour and competed in 17 Masters, won the 2019 Sanya Championship on the PGA Tour Series-China, months before Restrepo won her first Epson Tour title at the Guardian Championship.
Restrepo, 28, is one of 120 players in the field for this week’s Copper Rock Championship in Hurricane, Utah. She tied for second last month at the Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic. Sluman is back to work competing this week in Brazil.
“I couldn’t think of a better place for Trevor to propose,” Restrepo said. “It was incredible. Every time we were watching after on TV and they showed 13 we were like, ‘That’s where it happened.’
“The Masters is always going to be very special to us. Trevor was on the Korn Ferry Tour the last two years and now he’s playing the PGA Tour Latinoamérica. Hopefully one day when Trevor is playing in the Masters, it’ll take on even more of a special meaning.”
Young spent some quality time with the family after missing the weekend in Augusta.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Cameron Young’s recent play didn’t scream contender heading into the first round of the RBC Heritage.
He missed the cut in last week’s Masters. Didn’t get out of pool play in the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play. Missed the cut in The Players Championship. That means he hasn’t played on a Saturday in five weeks.
And he had never played Harbour Town Golf Links.
All that didn’t matter.
Young was in the first group off at 7:10 a.m. local time and right around noon signed for a bogey-free, 8-under 63 to grab the clubhouse lead on Thursday.
A key for Young, who won twice last year on the Korn Ferry Tour to earn his PGA Tour playing privileges, was staying in Augusta after missing the Masters cut with rounds of 77-77.
“I hung out with my wife and my son, my in-laws, my parents. We had a house for the week. We just spent some family time there and I practiced,” he said. “Just some small swing stuff and kind of got stuff out of sync. Maybe reverted back to some tendencies I’ve had my whole life. Just making some minor fixes just to make it feel like I’m in a little bit more control.
“I’ve shown that I can compete at this level, but so far in the couple majors I’ve gotten to play, I haven’t been able to do that. I think it just gives me more reason to go out and try to get better to a point where I’m more comfortable and able to have a week where I contend in one of those.”
Winning his first PGA Tour title would help his comfort level; he’s finished runner-up twice this season, at the Sanderson Farms Championship and Genesis Invitational. Young opened up an early three-stroke lead on five players – Patrick Cantlay, Graeme McDowell, Shane Lowry, Miro Pereira, and Corey Conners.
Conners punctuated his 66 with a hole-in-one on the seventh hole – a 7-iron from 187 yards. It was his fourth ace in the past three seasons, the most of any player.
“I think it’s pretty cool. There’s a lot of luck involved to make it,” he said. “I guess, if you hit enough solid iron shots, you’ll get lucky time and time again. So it’s been pretty awesome to have made four. Hopefully, they keep coming, but I’m probably done for a while now.”
As a rookie, one of the main challenges for Young and others is learning golf courses they’ve never seen before. Other than watching the RBC Heritage a few times on TV, Young knew very little about Harbour Town.
But he didn’t rush to get here, didn’t rush to play as many holes. He’s learned he has to pace himself to get the most out of himself.
“If we tried to be fully prepared every week, I would be exhausted by Thursday,” Young said. “I had a nice couple days off last weekend, so we got here, and I played Monday morning, played all 18 holes, which I think was kind of nice because I got to see them all and kind of think about it for a couple days before I really had to play. Whereas typically you’re lucky to see all 18 holes by Tuesday afternoon.
“It’s hard to strike the correct balance of being prepared but keeping yourself fresh. Honestly, I wanted to play last weekend, but in terms of this week, it’s not the end of the world. I’ve had a couple days to practice and get here a little early.”
A glorious weekend at the Masters has come and gone.
What can we do to pass the time while we wait another year for the return to Augusta National? We have eight glorious Masters-themed accessories to help you daydream about April 6, 2023.
During the past week we’ve helped you find some of the best Masters-themed apparel and gear which, in case you missed it, you can find here:
As you continue to boost your wardrobe, this list should help you round out your newly christened green and yellow closet.
We occasionally recommend interesting products, services, and gaming opportunities. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Golfweek operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
While some have pointed out that the Augusta National Golf Club could be making a lot more money off the Masters Tournament, one thing the club has always done well is to deliver high television ratings. Every year, the final round of the Masters typically rates as the most-watched single golf event of the season. With much of the drama taken away from the broadcast as Scottie Scheffler held the lead on the back nine Sunday and Cameron Smith hitting into the water on the 12th hole, some might have wondered if viewers would stay away from network coverage.
They didn’t.
According to CBS, the final round of the 2022 Masters was the most-watched golf telecast on any network since the fourth round of the 2019 Masters, when Tiger Woods famously won his fifth green jacket. An average of 10.173 million viewers, which is a seven percent increase over last year. The final hour of the telecast saw Scheffler, the No. 1 ranked player in the world, win his first career major. That is a seven percent increase over Sunday’s broadcast of the 2021 Masters.
At its peak, 13.16 million viewers were tuned in between 6:45 and 7 p.m. Eastern to see the final moments of the tournament.
The week started with record-breaking viewership numbers for ESPN, the network that carried coverage on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. ESPN’s live telecast on Thursday averaged 2.8 million viewers, a 21 percent increase over last year. It was ESPN’s largest first-round audience since 2018. The following day for Friday’s second round, an average of 3.5 million viewers tuned in to ESPN to see if Tiger Woods would make the cut. That figure was a 31 percent increase from 2021’s second round of Masters coverage.
