Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Ireland’s Seamus Power birdied five of the first six holes Sunday to charge into medal contention as British leader Justin Rose teed off in the final round of the Rio Olympic men’s golf tournament.
Power, whose longest birdie putt was a 14-footer at the fourth, earned a Rio spot only after countrymen Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry turned down the chance to play in Rio.
But he appeared ready to make the most of his chance as he reached six under for the tournament, level for fourth but still three shots out of a medal spot.
Rose, the 2013 US Open champion, was on 12-under 201 for 54 holes in quest of the first Olympic golf title in 112 years with fifth-ranked Henrik Stenson of Sweden only one stroke adrift.
The 36-year-old Englishman teed off alongside Stenson, who won last month’s British Open for his first major crown, and 90th-ranked Australian Marcus Fraser, who was on nine under. Fraser only became an Olympian after four countrymen, including top-ranked Jason Day, decided to skip Rio.
Sharing fourth alongside Power were American Bubba Watson, Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo and Sweden’s David Lingmerth.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.