Seamus Power Ties for Seventh at Biltmore Championship to Rise to 104th in FedEx Cup as Tour Card Battle Intensifies
Waterford golfer Seamus Power finished in a tie for seventh place at the inaugural Biltmore Championship at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove in Asheville, North Carolina, carding four consistent rounds of 66-67-65-66 to finish at 20-under par and rise from 114th to 104th in the FedEx Cup standings — a result that keeps his hopes of securing full PGA Tour status for the 2027 season very much alive as the FedEx Cup Fall series intensifies.
Background
The FedEx Cup Fall series is the PGA Tour's mechanism for determining which players retain full tour status for the following season. The series consists of eight tournaments played between September and November, with the top 100 players in the FedEx Cup standings at the end of the series earning full tour cards for 2027. Players ranked between 101st and 125th receive conditional status, while those outside the top 125 must return to the Korn Ferry Tour to attempt to regain their cards.
Seamus Power, the 39-year-old from Dungarvan, County Waterford, entered the Biltmore Championship ranked 114th in the FedEx Cup standings — a position that placed him in the conditional status zone and made the tournament a must-perform event. Power has had a solid if unspectacular 2026 season, making 13 cuts in 20 starts with six top-25 finishes and three top-10 finishes, but his world ranking of 188 reflects the fact that he has not yet produced the breakthrough result that would cement his place among the tour's elite.
The Biltmore Championship, held at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove in the mountains of North Carolina, was making its debut on the PGA Tour schedule as part of the tour's ongoing effort to expand its footprint into new markets. The course, a Jack Nicklaus design set among the Blue Ridge Mountains, provided a stern test of ball-striking and course management — qualities that have always been among Power's strengths.
Key Developments
Power opened with a five-under 66 on Thursday, recovering from an early bogey on a par-5 to play the remaining 15 holes in six-under. His approach play was particularly impressive, with the Waterford man ranking fifth in the field for Strokes Gained: Approach during the opening round. He followed up with rounds of 67, 65, and a bogey-free closing 66 that included five birdies, finishing at 20-under par in a tie for seventh place.
The tournament was won by Jacob Bridgeman, who finished at 26-under par after a closing round of 61. Power's tie for seventh was worth approximately $180,000 in prize money and, more importantly, a significant number of FedEx Cup points that moved him from 114th to 104th in the standings. The improvement means that Power is now inside the top 100 — the threshold for full tour status — with seven tournaments remaining in the Fall series.
Power described his performance as a significant confidence boost following a missed cut at the Amgen Irish Open the previous week. "I knew I was playing well, I just needed to put four rounds together," he said. "This gives me a lot of confidence going into the rest of the Fall series."
Why It Matters
Power's rise to 104th in the FedEx Cup standings is significant because it places him inside the top 100 for the first time since the summer, but the margin is slim enough that a poor performance in the next tournament could drop him back into the conditional zone. The FedEx Cup Fall series is a high-stakes environment in which the pressure of playing for tour status can affect even experienced professionals, and Power will need to maintain his form over the remaining seven events to secure his card. For Irish golf, Power's continued presence on the PGA Tour is important — he is one of only a handful of Irish players competing at the highest level of the men's professional game, and his performances provide a regular platform for Irish golf to be showcased to an American audience.
Local Impact
Power's success on the PGA Tour has been a source of considerable pride in Dungarvan and across County Waterford, where he is regarded as one of the county's most successful sporting exports. The Dungarvan Golf Club, where Power learned the game, has seen a significant increase in junior membership in recent years, with many young players citing Power as an inspiration. His performances on the PGA Tour are followed closely by the Irish golfing community, and his tie for seventh at the Biltmore Championship will be celebrated in Waterford as a significant achievement. Power is expected to return to Ireland for a brief visit before the next FedEx Cup Fall event, and he is likely to be welcomed at Dungarvan Golf Club for a community event.
What's Next
Power's next tournament is expected to be the following week's FedEx Cup Fall event, with the schedule continuing through November. He will need to maintain his position inside the top 100 over the remaining seven events to secure full tour status for 2027. The DP World India Championship at the Delhi Golf Club from October 15-18 is also on Power's schedule, providing an additional opportunity to accumulate world ranking points. Rory McIlroy, who is not competing in the FedEx Cup Fall series, is expected to return to action at the DP World India Championship, where Power may have the opportunity to compete alongside his compatriot.
