Seamus Power's putting places him in contention at Valspar Championship

Seamus Power is stalking the leaders at the Valspar Championship in Florida after carding an opening three-under-par 69 on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor.

Power, who has made seven of eight cuts this year after returning from a hip injury, recorded three birdies and a solitary bogey on a day of clinical putting from the Waterford man.

The 37-year-old registered one of those birdies on 17 in the middle of the testing three-hole finish known as the 'Snake Pit'.

In a nod to Power’s native county, caddie Simon Keelan donned a bib with ‘Up the Déise’ emblazoned on the back of it. Caddies carrying slogans are a tradition of the tournament, presumably much to the chagrin of Cork man Keelan.

Kevin's cooking.@Streels54 extends his lead to 2 @ValsparChamp. https://t.co/64p4ooE0p2 pic.twitter.com/4PIyRj5DEw

Kevin Streelman is set to commence the second round as the overall leader on seven under.

A number of players were still on the course at the time of writing, but the two-time PGA Tour winner's 64 is unlikely to be equalled or surpassed after the American racked up seven birdies in his bogey-free effort.

Peter Malnati, Canada’s Adam Svensson and China’s Carl Yuan are two shots adrift of the leader, with Rico Hoey, Keith Mitchell, Chez Reavie, Brendon Todd and Australia’s Aaron Baddeley sitting on four under.