PGA Tour star on LIV Golf move: "It would be like being in purgatory"
Seamus Power spoke passionately about playing in the Ryder Cup for Europe and the major championships, which would be jeopardised if he joined LIV Golf.
PGA Tour winner Seamus Power described joining LIV Golf as "like being in purgatory" as he outlined his desire to play in the Ryder Cup for Team Europe.
As reported by the Independent.ie, Power revealed money has never been an object in his golf career, a sentiment which has been echoed by the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick in previous months.
The 35-year-old admitted he would struggle to finish at the top of the European or World points lists for the 2023 Ryder Cup ahead of the likes of Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland. Could he be one of captain Luke Donald's six picks in Italy?
Power won his first PGA Tour title at the Barbasol Championship in 2021 and last season, the Irishman made five top-10s in 26 starts. He also made it to the second leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
The likes of Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia have severely jeopardised their chances of further involvement in the Ryder Cup by joining the LIV Golf Tour. Power wanted to avoid this at all costs.
Power's comments came on the eve of LIV Golf Bangkok, where the controversial series will debut in Asia.
"I never dreamed of money when it comes to golf. I love playing golf. I love the level of accomplishment and the personal reward you get," he said.
"There’s no guarantee you are ever going to make a Ryder Cup, but at least you can set it out as a huge goal and something you’ve always dreamed of. There was no way I was going to give up on that.
"If you signed up it would be like being in purgatory - a well-paid purgatory, yes - but you’d be there in January with 14 events to play and nothing more.
"I feel like I’ve just had my best couple of years and I want to see where it takes me which is hopefully to Ryder Cups and into more majors. I wasn’t one of the guys they were throwing numbers at.
"The unknowns around the Ryder Cup and the majors, for me that’s too much risk and too much to give up.
"Every European just dreams of playing the Ryder Cup. It won’t be at the back of my mind but right at the forefront of my mind for the next 12 months so hopefully I can play good golf and give myself a chance to make that team."
Power earned his first PGA Tour card in 2017 and he made the FedEx Cup Playoffs for the first time in his career in 2018. Back in March, he joined the DP World Tour with a view to qualifying for the Ryder Cup.
