Seamus Power and US Ryder Cup squad gathers momentum in Napa

Seamus Power hits his tee shot on the 12th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/PGA of America)

Ben Griffin looks primed for his Ryder Cup debut but he insists he's just thinking about winning the Procore Championship after cruising into a three-shot lead in California.

The American followed a first round 64 with a six-under 66 to lead from fellow rookie Russell Henley and amateur sensation Jackson Koivun on 14-under at Silverado Resort in Napa.

"If anything, I'm a little bit more free compared to the Playoffs just because there was a lot at stake for me," Griffin said.

"Making the Ryder Cup team and everything ... it's not like on the golf course I felt anxious, but definitely in between rounds I was more anxious. I really have nothing to lose this week."

Like the 11 Europeans in action at the BMW PGA at Wentworth, the goal is to project an image of strength and remain sharp.

"We want to build some momentum going into the Ryder Cup,” Griffin said. "I think the European guys are all trying to play really well and show us what they're capable of and we're trying to show them what we're capable of. "I want them all to play well, but I want to play a little bit better."

It was a great day for the US Ryder Cup players with nine of the ten in action this week breaking par and six of them improving on their opening rounds.

World number one Scottie Scheffler made five birdies on his front nine and while he dropped two shots coming home, a late birdie at his 17th hole saw him sign for a 68 that left him 14th on six under.

Scheffler was playing with Henley and US Open champion Spaun, who both backed up solid first rounds with second-round 68s.

While Henley was joint second, Spaun went bogey-free for the second day running to share fourth place on nine under as the US players battled to stay sharp after the 2023 side sat idle for a month before heading for defeat in Rome.

"Yeah, for me it's good prep just playing in general,"  Spaun said. "I can hit balls for hours at home and ends up being more detrimental than beneficial.

"I think out here getting more engaged targets and getting your feel right is a huge component for me.

"So, regardless of how I played this week, it's still beneficial to be out here competing."

Another Ryder Cup rookie, New Yorker Cameron Young, made 101 feet of putts for a 67 to share 20th on five under, while Collin Morikawa carded a 68 to lie one stroke further back alongside Seamus Power, who shot 69.

Ranked 130th in the FedEx Cup Fall standings, the West Waterford man (38) is looking to move up into the top 100, who will be fully exempt next year, or the top 125, who will have conditional status.

He went bogey-free last night, hitting 14 greens in a solid display that bodes well for the weekend.

As for the other US Ryder Cup players, Justin Thomas and Harris English shot 70s to share 45th on two under while Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay made the cut on the one under limit after rounds of 72 and 71.

Meanwhile, Stephanie Meadow missed the cut in the LPGA's Kroger Queen City Championship in Ohio.
She finished two shots outside the mark on level par after a one-under 71 as Thailand's Chanettee Wannasaen shot 68 to lead by two strokes from Jeeno Thitikul, Charley Hull and  Olivia Cowan on 13 under.