Séamus Power fell short in his bid to secure a full PGA Tour card for 2026 at the RSM Classic in Georgia. The Waterford man ended up tied for eighth on 18-under, a finish which was only good enough for a jump to 117th in the FedExCup Fall standings. Power needed to breach the top 100 to retain exempt status for next season.
Finishing in the top 125 does at least grant him conditional PGA Tour status. There is one more opportunity to earn full status for next year. Cards are on offer to the top five finishers at Q-School, which takes place at TPC Sawgrass’ Dye’s Valley Course and Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida from December 11 – 14.
The 38-year-old Power shot a three-under 67 on Sunday, a score well shy of what he needed to climb the leaderboard into the top-three spot required. He had entered the final round on 15-under, tied for seventh, and just two shots off second.
Power started well, sinking a 10-foot putt for birdie on the first. A superb third shot on the par-5 seventh left him with a two-foot putt for birdie which he made but his progress was stalled on the eighth when a wayward tee-shot ended with him carding a bogey. Two eight-foot putts for birdies on the 12th and 17th followed but Power could not catch fire as he had needed.
The tournament was won by Sami Valimaki on 23-under. The 27-year-old became the first Finnish player to win on the PGA Tour.
Americans Lee Hodges and Ricky Castillo came agonisingly close to entering the top 100 with their performances at Sea Island. Ricky Castillo finished third, moving up 33 places to 102nd while Lee Hodges tied for fourth jumping 21 places to 101st. It meant that Australian Karl Vilips kept his place in the top 100.
Hodges, who missed part of the season due to injury, missed a birdie putt on the last which would have taken him to 20-under and a solo fourth finish.
“I saw Eric’s snap off, but I didn’t think he hit it hard enough,” he said about his playing partner Eric Cole’s final putt. “I didn’t add any more. I should have looking back on it. Wish I would have.
“I made a lot of putts coming down the stretch. Really, the one on 17 was the best putt I hit all week. The wind for sure blew that out of the hole. That putt was in the middle. But yeah, it is what it is. I played great all week. I was in a bad spot coming in here but played myself into a nice spot honestly.”
Meanwhile, Leona Maguire finished 58th at the CME Group Tour Championship in Florida. The Cavan golfer finished with a one-over 73 on Sunday, leaving her on two-over for the tournament. Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul defended her title, finishing on 26-under, four shots clear of compatriot Pajaree Anannarukarn to claim the $4m prize.
