SEAMUS POWER HAD struggled in the final round of the St Jude Classic, hitting four bogeys on the way to carding a one over 71 to leave him sitting on three-under overall.
Power’s challenge faded on Saturday as the Waterford native slipped down the leaderboard to a tie for 22nd, after carding a two-over round of 72.
He picked up three birdies on the final day, but the bogey shots kept him well off the pace in a tie for 27th place alongside Graeme McDowell, who hit an eagle on the 16th.
Meanwhile, Daniel Berger fired a four-under-par 66 to retain his St. Jude Classic crown in Memphis on Sunday, emerging from a crowded field to claim the second US PGA tour win of his career.
The 24-year-old from Florida, who started the day at TPC Southwind three off the pace, carded four birdies and 14 pars to finish on 10 under 270.
South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel and South Korea’s Kim Whee finished a shot adrift on 271.
A cluster of five players, including overnight co-leader Rafa Cabrera Bello of Spain, were one shot back on 272.
A playoff had appeared to be looming in the closing stages until Berger produced a superb birdie on the par-four 15th.
After making the green in two, he rolled in a long birdie putt to edge one shot clear of the field. He then played flawlessly over the final three holes to take his lead in the clubhouse.
But even with several groups still to finish, no-one looked like threatening Berger’s lead to leave him celebrating a win he had never dreamed of.
“Golf is tough. There’s ups and downs, but I just can’t believe that I’ve won again,” he said afterwards, revealing that he had followed the same routine this year as he had done last season.
“I’m staying in the same hotel room, exact same room number that I was last (year),” he said. “I thought there was no chance this could be my week, but apparently it was.
“I’m extremely proud. I’m 1-for-1 defending titles, so that’s a pretty good stat. I just battled so hard today and played so good. I just can’t be happier.”
© – AFP, 2017
For James Ryan to come in like that on his European debut, just off an injury… My God, he’s only 21. So excited to see where his career goes. Henshaw was fantastic at outside centre aswell. Barry Daly has been such a welcome surprise, really balanced player.
And Carbery. Kid oozes class. Playing at 15 for the next couple of years will do him no harm, look at Beauden Barrett.
@4OYards: haha great second row. Beirne coming back next year and Treadwell in Ulster – some fine young locks and Dilliane is only 24 too
@4OYards:
I feel not playing Carbery at 10 when Sexton is out is wasting vital development time. One of the hottest prospects at out-half in World Rugby. Leinster has an embarrassment of riches.
Perhaps it would be best for everyone if of the exiting 10s was given a chance to lead another province in need of a player of such quality
@Gavin Healy: He is very effective coming into the line from No. 15. I wonder how his place kicking is coming along. He is the real deal. So is James Ryan
Henshaw was savage in Defence today, made some great carries too. Lots of young talent in that team.
@Batster: an immense warrior and absolute gent on and off the pitch
Only saw the game just now but James Ryan was incredible. For a guy so young, he easily looked like an international quality lock today. Carried the ball excellently, showed great tackle technique, wasn’t afraid to get involved in a bit of niggle at the ruck, called line-outs to himself. Just class.
While he still has to be physically eased into pro rugby and managed like those before him, today was a top class performance from the young man.
It’s poor reasoning to say Henshaw is wasted at 12. The guys is superb at 13 and more exciting to watch. Hopefully he gets a run out at 13 in November. But the fact that he is brilliant at 13 doesn’t equate to him being wasted at 13. He’s immense there as well.
@Paul K Murphy: the rational side to the argumemt you’re making is fair. The other side is silly and is just used as a Schmidt dig.
@Conor Paddington: Henshaw is wasted at 12.
There’s a changing of the guard afoot. Carberry was outstanding as was Conan, the young guys coming through have the ability. Henshaw is next level. World class 13. Outstanding
The Article says Montpelier will be a different beast at home, Leinster with Sexton, O’Brien,Fardy, Heaslip, Kearney and Ringrose could be a very different beast too
Hey Ryan, you mention the amount of yards henshaw made, leinster tries scored, nabolos weight, etc. Any chance you could mention the actual score? It would be helpful.
@Brother Sylvest: you have several options there. You could have watched the match, one. You could google it, two. You could check innumerable social media sources, three. You could have checked the articles which were match reports as opposed to commentary, four. The list actually goes on.
@Conor Paddington: All true Conor but it’s a fair point to suggest including the score in an article about the match is not asking for too much given that other stats were mentioned
@Brother Sylvest: leinster won but Montpellier secured a losing bonus point .. I Google it
Aki 12 and Henshaw 13 for Ireland. Like how they played for connacht.
Great strength in depth,fingers crossed exciting year ahead
From an Irish perspective a McCloskey 12 and Henshaw 13 looks mouthwatering.
Should always be at 13 a natural
Yes Leinster got the win but to be fair it was more like Montpellier let them win! That overlap at the end! Since under 8s the whole idea is to suck them into the middle then go wide around the outside! How that pass wasn’t giving I’ll never know!
@mb: that’s unfair . They earned that win today
Bit of a Pedantic Pat post but Henshaw didn’t come through the system at Leinster.
I’ll get me coat….
@Rosco Bosco: bit of a blind Barry more like….it mentions that in the article!
@Marc Richardson: It got edited after I mentioned it Marco
The real talking point should be how amazing it is that a backline with an average age of 22/23 once Nacewa went off managed to outperform (based on skill, not just energy) a very expensively assembled Montpellier backline. Incredible.
Bodes very, very well for Ireland in the years to come.
Thought Henshaw and Carberry were sensational, and in the forwards, Ryan was outstanding, what a player we have in the making. Ireland might need him from next year as we really only have 3 locks of international stature with Ryan out of the loop.
In Leinster supporters opinion is Henshaw a better 13 than Ringrose?
@Conor Greham: To be honest, I don’t know. That remains to be seen.
@Conor Greham: Maybe. But Leinster don’t have a 12 that’s better than Henshaw and Ringrose is fantastic.
@Conor Greham: ringrose is a very good 13, we don’t have a natural 12 so unless one comes along while ringrose is fit Robbie switches to 12.
Reid at 12 and henshaw at 13 or henshaw at 12 and ringrose at 13 not a coach on the planet is going to pick the first one.
@Conor Greham: Ringrose performaed brilliantly at 12 against Australia. Anything to be said for GR@12, RH@13?
Also, strange no mention of Leinster achieved this victory with Sexton, O’Brien, Heaslip, Fardy, Rob Kearney, Dan Leavy (even if the latter two wouldn’t / shouldn’t have played) – incredible squad depth.
Leinster flattered.montpelier much better team but didn’t have luck referee or anything on their side
Very sloppy performance. If Leinster are to progress this year we need to see the basics done well and let the attractive rugby look after itself.
I know it is a team full of young guns which is great to see, but this is the 3rd or 4th year like this and the team needs to kick on.
Also, Ringrose is a class 12 too, great at offloads and a very strong straight up defender. The 2 lads could interchange no worries and that’s this Lions 12/13 in S.A.