Ryder Cup hopeful forced out of The American Express on PGA Tour
Ireland's Seamus Power has been forced to withdraw from The American Express due to a recurring back injury.
European Ryder Cup hopeful Seamus Power has been forced to withdraw from The American Express on the PGA Tour from 16-19 January due to a recurring back injury.
Power, 37, missed the cut by eight shots at the Sony Open following rounds of 73 and 72 (5-over par) at Waialae Country Club in Hawaii this week.
The Irishman has endured a wretched couple of injury-plagued seasons on the PGA Tour.
The two-time PGA Tour winner sustained a hip injury in 2023 and that ultimately cost him his place on a first European Ryder Cup team at Marco Simone.
Power then picked up a back injury at the end of last season and it caused him to WD during the second round of the RSM Classic.
Despite telling the media he had recovered from that back injury ahead of this week's Sony Open, the man from West Waterford has unfortunately complained of yet more back pain this weekend.
As a result the World No.127 has made the difficult decision to withdraw from The American Express in southern California next week.
The American Express marks the third event of the 2025 PGA Tour season.
Power will now head back home to Las Vegas for treatment with his physio in a bid to be able to return for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at the end of the month.
"Seamus’ back started bothering him on Thursday during the Sony Open," Power’s agent told the Irish Independent.
"He decided it was best to return to Las Vegas to work with his trainer, ensuring he’s fully prepared for the rest of the West Coast swing."
Power has been replaced in The American Express field by Bronson Burgoon.
PGA Tour star Maverick McNealy has also withdrawn from the tournament and has been replaced by Matthew Riedel.
Power's slow start to the PGA Tour season and recurring back injury certainly puts him behind the 8-ball in a bid to make Luke Donald's 2025 European Ryder Cup team.
The Irishman told the Irish Independent last month that he certainly had an outside chance of making Donald's 2025 European Ryder Cup team should he play well and stay injury free.
"If I get to Atlanta (for the Tour Championship), I might have a chance of being in the mix come September, so that’s gonna be the goal," Power said in December.
"If I can reach some of my statistical and result goals, I figure I’ll be very close to the team."
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler has also been forced to withdraw from The American Express following a horror hand injury on Christmas Day.
The unfortunate incident occurred when he was serving dinner to his family and the reigning Masters champion needed surgery.
Said procedure saw shards of glass removed from the golfer's right palm and it forced him to skip the two events in Hawaii.
Scheffler is expected to return to PGA Tour action at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
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