Séamus Power more at ease on major scene

A little over a month ago and Séamus Power was about to embark on his maiden major at the iconic Augusta National course.

Today the Waterford native tees off in his second major in Oklahoma, feeling more comfortable in his lofty surroundings.

The 35-year-old made a fine start at the US Masters, making the cut and finishing in a tie for 27th on four-over par.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport's Greg Allen ahead of his US PGA debut, Power says his experience to date stood him in good stead last month.

"I felt quite comfortable at Augusta," he said. "I think my age (35) helps. A lot of guys play their first major at 23 or 24, whatever it is...I have seen a lot of different tournaments. I have been around a lot, heard a lot of talk about it."

Power, who tees off at 6.58pm (Irish time) alongside Russell Knox and Scott Stallings, is playing at Southern Hills country club by virtue of a top-20 finish in the AT&T Byron Nelson in Dallas last week.

Power, who won the Barbasol Championship last July, feels blocking out the noise is one element of producing at a major.

"I’ve become better at evaluating what I’m doing," the world number 42 said. "Golf is a game of small margins.

"At the end of the day, it’s me against this golf course. I need to figure out a good plan to get around it, see where the opportunities are going to be. Some places you are going to be a little more conservative.

"I will set up to shoot as low a score as I can and see how well I can do.

"It’s hard to win in golf, you don’t win that often, but you do your preparation and practice round. 72 holes, a lot can go either way, so you just give yourself the best chance."