Power withdraws in Texas; Maguire starts well at Annika

Seamus Power opted to withdraw from the Austin Championship as a precaution last night after tweaking his hip en route to an opening 73.

The West Waterford man, whose career went backwards when he struggled to recover from a hip injury in 2022-23, is pushing to finish the season inside the top 60 in the FedEx Cup and qualify for the first two signature events next season.

“I irritated the hip and didn’t want to push it or risk it to be honest, but nothing too major thankfully.” Power said.

The two-time PGA Tour winner believes he can contend for Majors and compete with the world's best again after a recent play-off loss in Bermuda secured his full card for 2027.

He still has next week’s final counting RSM Classic to bid for a third PGA Tour win after only losing out in a play-off for the recent Bermuda Championship

He entered the FedEx Cup Fall series ranked 114th in the standings but since soared as high as 65th after followj g to Bermuda finish with his fifth top 10 of the season in last week’s World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico

The players finishing in between 51st and 60th in the standings earn starts in the first two signature events next year — the AT&T Pro-Am and the Genesis Championship.

But a win at Sea Island next week would secure starts in the Players Championship and the US PGA as well as an exemption to the end of 2028.

Trace Crowe set the pace in Austin with a 10-under 62 to lead by two shots from Erik van Rooyen and Max Greyserman.

Meanwhile, Leona Maguire made six birdies in a five under 65 to share ninth place after the opening round The Annika in Florida.

She was four strokes behind South Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi and Japan’s Minami Katsu in Belleair.

Kildare’s Lauren Walsh shot 67 to share 31st at Pelican Golf Club