He might be an amateur, but Mark Power hopes to take another small step on the road to becoming a European Tour star by making a big impact in his native Kilkenny in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

The 21-year old has just completed his second year at Wake Forest University in the US, the alma mater of Arnold Palmer and the college team that just recently produced this season’s Masters runner-up Will Zalatoris.

Zalatoris saw no reason why he couldn’t win at Augusta National on his debut, and almost pulled it off. So while Power is not saying he can win the Irish Open in his second appearance, he feels ready to put up a big performance on a course he knows like the back of his hand.

“I’ve almost grown-up playing at Mount Juliet,” said Power, who learned the game at Kilkenny Golf Club before going on to forge a stellar amateur record, winning back to back Irish Boys titles by reaching the semi-finals of the British Amateur last year and then going on to play a starring role in May’s Walker Cup at Seminole, winning three of his four matches in a nail-biting 14-12 defeat.

“I had my Leinster coaching there, and I know the course very well, and I really like it. It’s one of my favourite courses and I feel like it suits my game a lot because you can use your length to your advantage. There are a couple of tricky holes like two and four where you have to think your way around, but it’s a great opportunity for me.”

Power tied for 60th on his Irish Open debut at Galgorm Castle last year, but he feels like a far more accomplished player this year, and he believes he can do something special with his father Eddie, a three-time Irish Close champion like his mother Eileen Rose, on his bag.

“I was lucky enough to play last year and make the cut, and I’m trying to do something similar and maybe a little better again.

“I’m definitely a better player now. I feel like I’m gradually getting better and better, and this would be a good week to show the progression I have been making.

“Mentally, I’m much more capable of handling situations on the golf course. I feel like I’m enjoying myself out there, and if I can get into a good rhythm, I hope to be right up there.

“Obviously, people say you shouldn’t play in the tournaments unless you’re trying to win, and I feel like that to an extent, but I obviously have to be realistic about my goals and use it as a learning curve again.

“But then again, college golf in the US is so competitive, they teach you to play aggressive golf, and the standard is excellent. That’s why you see a lot of guys going straight from college on the tour who are pretty much ready to compete.

“I wouldn’t really feel out of my depth this week, that’s for sure, so let’s just see where my game takes me.”

The Kilkenny star loves a big stage and with fans on site this week, he reckons he will be in his element.

“I just love when there are crowds. The Walker Cup was probably the biggest occasion I’ve ever played in, even though there were less than 5,000 at Seminole. I loved every second of it. I really do love the big events, and it’s a really good time to focus and just turn it on.”

He has no plans to leave college early and turn professional just yet and hopes to graduate and potentially say goodbye to the amateur ranks with a second Walker Cup appearance on the Old Course at St Andrews in 2023.

“The way the last few years have gone as regards turning pro, it’s a bit of a mess at the moment with Tour School being cancelled and a lot of guys on tour struggling to get starts due to the pandemic,” he explained.

“So America is really a great fit for me right now, and we have an unreal set up there at Wake Forest. I will certainly stick it out and graduate. I mean, let’s face it, the Walker Cup in St Andrews in two years would be a great way to go out. That’s a long way away, but that’s my plan at the minute.”

He played a practice round with Shane Lowry and fellow Walker Cup star Caolan Rafferty from Dundalk on Tuesday and loved the experience so much, and can’t wait to play with Gavin Moynihan and French star Robin Roussel today.

“Playing with Shane was just amazing. But it’s just crazy to think that six or seven years ago, I’d have been completely in awe. It’s fantastic the way life presents you with these opportunities, and I’m going to try and make the most of it this week.”