Barbasol Championship: Seamus Power finally breaks through

While the golf world was focused on the The Open Championship, 34-year old Irishman Seamus Power quietly captured his first PGA Tour victory at the Barbasol Championship.

After posting a second consecutive round of 67 to finish at 21-under par, Power squeaked by JT Poston in a six-hole playoff that nearly outlasted the daylight.

Despite the seemingly impressive low score, Power needed some bad breaks from Poston to take home the trophy.

The first mistake from Poston came on the par-5 15th hole, where his ball was ruled out of bounds by mere inches. The ball was so close to the out-of-bounds line that rules officials connected the stakes with a string to make sure the ruling was correct.

Poston walked away from No. 15 with a double bogey and maintained a one-shot lead. However, a bogey on the par-3 16th moved Poston into a tie with Power.

On the first playoff hole, Power’s approach shot on the par-4 18th nearly found the water but held up in the rough just off the green. Power calmly sank the chip for a birdie, but Poston drained a 10-foot birdie putt of his own.

Over the next four playoff holes, Power and Poston played the 18th four more times, only making one trip to the par-3 ninth hole.

On the sixth playoff hole, while the sun quickly set below the horizon, Poston’s drive found the water. Just like his collapse on the 15th, Poston missed being in play by just inches and was forced to drop, eventually carding a bogey.

Power took the opportunity in stride and calmly recorded a par on the hole to secure the victory.

The win moves Power to No. 123 in the FedEx Cup standings, which currently puts him in position to make the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

“This changes everything for me,” said Power in an emotional interview. “Forever, I’ll be able to say I’m a winner on the PGA Tour. I couldn’t be more proud.”