Waterford's Seamus Power shot an opening round of one-under-par 69 at the Wyndham Championship, the final regular season event on the PGA Tour, as Joel Dahmen tied the lowest round of his career with a nine-under-par 61 to set the early pace.
Two-time PGA Tour winner Power was left feeling the cost of a sloppy back nine where he made bogeys on 10, 11 and 14; halting his small play-off chances in quick time.
The 38-year-old needs a win to make the last 70 and the opening event of the post-season, the FedEx St Jude Championship, but now finds himself eight shots back after day one.
Power got himself off to a fast start at Sedgefield Country Club, rolling in short birdie putts on the second and fifth holes. This was followed with back-to-back birdies on eight and nine, as he posted an impressive four-under-par front nine, but he was unable to keep that pace up.
Dahmen too needs a strong showing at the regular-season finale, A win would vault him from 101 in the standings all the way to 48th.
Dahmen holds just a one-stroke advantage over Sweden's Alex Noren, who turned in an eight-under 62 at Sedgefield Country Club.
Four players were tied for third at 63, in the form of American pair Cameron Young, Mark Hubbard, Colombia's Nico Echavarria and defending champion Aaron Rai of England.
Sungjae Im is alone in seventh on six under after a 64.
Major winners Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott, as well as Rai's compatriot Matt Wallace and Italy’s Matteo Manassero, were among a large group tied just inside the top 10 on five under.
Additional reporting: Reuters
