“Great stories can come from tough situations” - Seamus Power upbeat in card quest

Séamus Power speaks to the media in Bermuda

Seamus Power hopes to write a fairytale ending to a tough year as Rory McIlroy aims to complete a dream season by capturing his seventh Harry Vardon Trophy in Dubai.

McIlroy wants to hold off the chasing Marco Peng by winning the DP World Tour Championship for the fourth time.

But Power is 133rd in the FedEx Cup Fall standings, with only the top 100 after next week's RSM Classic at Sea Island retaining full PGA Tour privileges.

The good news is he won this week's Butterfield Bermuda in 2021, and having recorded two recent top-five finishes in the Georgia event, he's upbeat.

"I'm obviously not where I want to be, but I do have confidence, yes," Power said.

"But I've played well here and I've played well in Georgia multiple times. So I do have that up my sleeve, I feel like.

"Also, just seeing my game going in the right direction is the most encouraging thing. That's the part that really gets you down on the golf course where you're just struggling."

Power is 140th for strokes gained putting this season—down from 63rd two years ago—but feels his game is returning.

"Last week was much better," he said. "It's been OK. I struggled with some injury issues early in the season, into the summer, and my confidence was down a little bit, and you're struggling to make cuts.

"But it's been much better in the fall. I really feel like my body's healthy and I'm finding my swing and my comfort level again.

"The weird thing with golf is if I win in the next two weeks, it's going to be a great season…

"Great stories can come from tough situations, so that's what I'm going to be focused on in the next two weeks."

As for McIlroy, a Penge win would force him to finish no worse than solo second to win the Race to Dubai, while Tyrrell Hatton needs to win and hope McIlroy finishes worse than tied eighth.

"I have to play well," McIlroy said. "The last couple of times I've wrapped up here, I've pretty much had the Race to Dubai in the bag, and I could just focus on trying to win the tournament.

"This week I've got one eye on trying to win the tournament, but then another eye on making sure I keep Marco at bay."

Meanwhile, Kilkenny's Mark Power (25) secured a HotelPlanner Tour card after finishing 10 shots outside the top 20 who claimed DP World Tour cards at the Qualifying School in Spain.

He closed with a level par 71 to finish joint 56th on eight under as Zander Lombard shot 63 to run out a 13-stroke victor on 37 under in Tarragona.

Leona Maguire, who is 56th in the standings, plays The Annika in Florida, looking to remain in the top 60 who make next week's Tour Championship.

In Phoenix, Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke play the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, where Steven Alker, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Stewart Cink, Ernie Els and Thomas Bjørn will contest the Charles Schwab Cup title.