Power denied on the greens as Grace claims Puerto Rico glory
Branden Grace of South Africa kisses the winner's trophy after winning the Puerto Rico Open at Grand Reserve Country Club on February 28, 2021 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Seamus Power suffered final day heartbreak as his putter went cold and he missed a golden opportunity to challenge for his maiden PGA Tour win in the Puerto Rico Open.
Lying solo tenth, just four shots off the lead overnight, the West Waterford man couldn't give himself an early 34th birthday present as he had 32 putts in a level par 72 to finish 22nd on 10-under.
He was nine shots behind South African Branden Grace, who finished eagle-birdie to shoot 66 and win his second PGA Tour title by a shot from Jhonattan Vegas less than a fortnight after the death of his father from complications related to COVID-19.
"It was a good week overall, but I didn't take advantage of the back nine today, and that was kind of heartbreaking," Power said. "Overall, it was a pretty solid week but just a disappointing finish."
It was Power's best finish since he tied for ninth in the Barracuda Championship last August. But he missed out on a top-10 finish that would have guaranteed him a spot in the Honda Classic later this month.
The pride on Tooraneena birdied the par-five second but bogeyed the seventh and ninth to turn in one-over before making his only other birdie of the day at the 13th.
"Overall, it was all pretty good, but it was just one of those days where I didn't quite come together," he added. "Somehow, I had horrible just misses on three or four holes on the back which I really needed. Nothing was bad. Everything was decent.
"I am sure I will take the positives, but obviously at the moment, you're kind of frustrated after just getting off the course. But when I look back at, which I am sure I will, there was lots of good stuff and lots to build on."
Grace’s eagle-birdie left him on 19-under, securing his second PGA Tour win and his first since the 2016 RBC Heritage.
He made a bunker shot for eagle at the 17th to tie for the lead at 18 under heading down the par-five 18th, and after finding the front bunker in two, he hit a 30-yard recovery to five feet and rolled in the putt to edge out Vegas, who shot 65
Local favourite Rafael Campos shot 70 and tied for third with Grayson Murray who needed an eagle to tie but took six.
Grace felt he had inspiration from above when he made his eagle two at the 17th.
“I knew it was going in 6 feet from the hole,” he said, looking heavenward. “Just give me that strength for one more hole. Just a couple more good swings …”
He later revealed that before the round, he had spoken on the phone with his wife about his late father and had tears in his eyes.
“This morning I had a tea in the car when I was talking to my wife,” he said. “And it was an emotional day. I thought about him a hell of a lot out there, and especially -- the last tee shot, I was really struggling the last hole, because I knew he was watching over me. I knew he was guiding me.
“And I know he's in a better place now, but we miss him dearly. And it's just been -- it's been a great way to a -- a tough time that we have had the last couple months.”
European Ryder Cup captain Pádraig Harrington tied for 58th on three-under after a 70.
