Smotherman Makes it Two in a Row
Austin Smotherman captured his second straight tournament on the PGA Tour by defeating Seamus Power in a three-hole playoff Monday morning at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. The American finished at 16 under par through 54 holes at Port Royal Golf Course, then beat 2022 champion Seamus Power on the third play-off hole by making par as Power missed the green with his tee shot and fluffed his chip before putting twice to make bogey.
The PGA Tour announced the shortening of the event to 54 holes shortly after 5 p.m. on Sunday after wind gusts exceeding 40 mph made play impossible. None of the 72 players remaining in the field started their fourth round, and with the wind refusing to relent, the Tour decided to call it a day.
Weather Forces Unusual Monday Finish
The tournament became a war of attrition on Saturday as brutal wind conditions at Port Royal separated contenders from pretenders. Seamus Power made up a two-shot deficit over the wind-blown closing holes Saturday at Port Royal for a 4-under 67, giving him a share of the lead with Austin Smotherman going into the final round. Power hammered 5-wood off the tee and into the green, both times hitting a hard draw into a wind that was ripping off the left, and he left himself 40 feet for a two-putt birdie.
Smotherman rode the wind to a 9-foot eagle putt on the par-5 seventh hole, putting him at 5 under for the round as he quickly made up ground. The conditions were so severe that strategic decisions became critical. The wind was so severe on the par-3 16th that his chip 7-iron to a front pin wound up going into a back bunker some 35 yards long. He blasted out to the fairway just in front of the green and got that up-and-down for a bogey.
Smotherman and Power were tied for the 54-hole lead at 16 under, and the plan was for them to return at 8 a.m. ET Monday (9 a.m. local time) for the playoff beginning at the par-3 16th hole, weather permitting. The players would play Port Royal's signature par-3 16th on repeat.
Power Needed the Win, But Smotherman Stayed Hot
The stakes were high for both players, but particularly for Power. Power is just outside the top 100 in the FedExCup Fall (No. 103 entering the week), and a victory would not only lock up his card through 2028 but put him in the elite PGA Tour Championship Series in the new 2028 schedule. His first PGA Tour title came in a playoff against J.T. Poston at the 2021 ISCO Championship. His Tour playoff record is 1-0.
But Smotherman, riding the confidence of his recent Bank of Utah Championship victory, proved steadier in the critical moments. It was the third where the damage was done for Power, though, who hit a poor tee shot and a poor chip to produce a bogey, with Smotherman having two putts for it after he found the green with an 8-iron. Although he ran the first putt by, the four footer coming back was never anywhere else, with Smotherman wrapping up a second PGA Tour title in a month at the Bermuda Championship.
The Canadian trio of Corey Conners, Ben Silverman, and Taylor Moore all finished in a tie for third at 14 under, two shots behind the playoff participants. Chan Kim, Tom Hoge, Chris Kirk, Danny Walker, and Chandler Blanchet rounded out the top 10 at 13 under.
What This Means for Your Pool Strategy
Smotherman's back-to-back victories illustrate an important principle for golf pools: recent form matters more than name recognition, particularly in fall events where momentum can carry players through multiple weeks. For pools using golfpools.co's prize money scoring system, targeting players who just captured their first win (or who are showing consistent top-10 finishes) in the previous week or two can yield significant value.
Wind conditions create unusual leaderboards. When weather forecasts call for sustained winds above 25 mph, prioritize players with links experience or those who grew up in windy climates (Power, an Irishman, nearly capitalized on this advantage). Course history also proved valuable here, as Power had won this event before and nearly did so again.
The FedExCup Fall standings add another layer of strategy. Players on the bubble (spots 95-110) often play with desperation that translates to aggressive, winning golf. Conversely, those who have already secured their cards may lack the same edge. When building your lineup for fall events, check the current FedExCup standings to identify players with maximum motivation.
Create Your Pool for the Mexico Swing
The PGA Tour heads to Mexico next week for the VidantaWorld Mexico Open, followed by the World Wide Technology Championship. Both events typically feature smaller fields with players fighting to finish inside the top 100 in fall standings, creating opportunity for savvy pool managers.
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