Séamus Power Maintains Strong Pace at CJ Cup Byron Nelson

Irish golfer Séamus Power has positioned himself well heading into the weekend at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, carding a bogey-free 65 during Friday’s second round at TPC Craig Ranch. The 39-year-old Waterford native currently sits at 11-under-par, keeping him firmly in contention as the tournament progresses toward its final stages.

Building Momentum in Texas

Power entered Friday’s play looking to build on a solid opening round of 66. He wasted no time making his move, starting his second round on the 10th hole and immediately finding his rhythm. He secured back-to-back birdies on the 11th and 12th holes, followed by another on the 14th. The highlight of his front nine was a clinical three-hole birdie streak from the 16th to the 18th.

While Power was unable to add further birdies during his final nine holes, his ability to remain bogey-free ensured he maintained his standing on the leaderboard. He currently occupies a tie for 12th place, trailing the tournament leader, Si Woo Kim.

The Leaderboard Landscape

Si Woo Kim has set a blistering pace in Texas. Despite a bogey on the final hole—which prevented him from recording a sub-60 round—Kim posted an impressive 60 on Friday. He currently holds a seven-shot lead over Power and a five-shot cushion over the group in second place.

The chasing pack is crowded with significant talent. Sungjae Im vaulted into contention with a 61, a round highlighted by a hole-in-one on his 16th hole and an eagle on his final hole. Jackson Suber also carded a 61 to join the group at 13-under-par, alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler, Kensei Hirata and former US Open champion Wyndham Clark. Jordan Spieth also made a notable charge, firing a 62 after a stretch of six consecutive birdies on his back nine.

Key Takeaways

• Consistent Performance: Séamus Power’s bogey-free 65 marks his second consecutive strong round, keeping him at 11-under total.
• Leaderboard Dominance: Si Woo Kim leads the field comfortably, despite a late bogey on the challenging 18th hole.
• Crowded Field: A high-caliber group, including Scottie Scheffler and Wyndham Clark, sits at 13-under, two shots ahead of Power.

Looking Ahead

As the tournament shifts to the weekend, the focus turns to whether anyone can bridge the significant gap created by Kim. For Power, the strategy remains clear: maintain the consistency that kept his card clean on Friday while looking for opportunities to capitalize on the scoring conditions at TPC Craig Ranch. With the field tightly packed behind the leader, the weekend rounds promise high-stakes golf as players vie for position on the leaderboard.