Seamus Power in contention at RSM Classic with opening round of 64

Seamus Power posts an opening round of 64 at The RMC Classic. Pic: Kenneth Richmond/Getty

Seamus Power has fired himself into early contention at the RSM Classic after shooting a 64 (-6) in round one at Sea Island GC in Georgia.

The Waterford man is in a desperate battle to retain his PGA Tour card, currently sitting at 129th in the FedEx Cup rankings and needing to finish inside the top 100 to retain full tour status. 

The 38-year-old performed well in his opening round at the Seaside course, carding seven birdies. He sank three birdies on the front nine, including a birdie on the opening hole.

The back nine started shakily for Power, with a bogey on 10, but he finished strong with three birdies in his last five holes to propel him up the leaderboard and give him some much needed hope going into the final three days.

Power has had a disappointing season to date, producing only one top 10 all year - 8th at the Valspar Championsip.

At the Bermuda Championship last week - a tournament he won last year - he looked to be on track to secure his tour card when he sat three shots off the lead going into the final round. However, a run of four bogeys in his final five hampered his progress and he finished in a tie for 11th.

In other Irish golf news, Leona Maguire carded a 70 (-2) in round 1 of the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. The world number 99 currently sits in 31st place going into day 2 at Tiburon Golf Club in Florida.

Maguire will be hoping to build on her solid opening round after finishing 52nd at The ANNIKA tournament last week. Similarly, the Cavan golfer started well at Pelican Golf Club but tailed off towards to the end of the tournament.