Shriners Hospitals For Children Open - Final Round
ADD Rod Pampling to the list of drought-breaking winners in 2016.
Pampling, ranked 451 in the world, collected just over $1.5 million for his win, earned direct passage in next year’s Masters at Augusta and secured his US playing card for the next two seasons.
“It’s a great feeling. It’s amazing,” Pampling said
“It’s extremely rewarding ... coming back from what we had the last few years is phenomenal.
“I don’t want to go out thinking, oh, Pampling, he’s still out here just throwing in numbers. I knew I could still win out here, and this is fantastic, and it justifies the hard work we’ve put in. So I’m looking forward the next few years.”
Rod Pampling celebrates with his trophy after winning the Las Vegas tournament. Picture: Getty Source: AFP
Pampling only got in to the event because of a clerical error. The field was only supposed to have 132 players after a date change to November, but it was never made official and Pampling was one of 12 who made up the usual 144 starters.
He made the most of it too, shooting an opening round of 11-under 60, going within centimetres of a 59 after just missing a final hole birdie.
The field caught Pampling by Sunday and he endured a rollercoaster final round, before making birdies on four his final six holes, and a crucial par on the 5, 16th hole.
Pampling had a one-shot lead going to the 18th after Glover made bogey on 17, and holed a 10m birdie putt on the last hole to put the victory beyond doubt.
“The week got off to a fantastic start. Dream of those sorts of starts. And then to finish it was just another dream on top of the first round,” he said.
“It was — to make a putt __like that on the last is, I don’t know how often as kids we do that to ourselves on the putting green trying to make a putt on the last to win the tournament.
Rod Pampling reacts as he birdies the 18th hole to clinch victory. Picture: Getty Source: AFP
Pampling’s last victory was the 2008 Aussie Masters, but he hadn’t won in the US since 2006 at the Bay Hill Invitational.
He lost his US tour card after the 2013 season, spent the next two years on the secondary Web.com tour, and after a poor season back on the main tour last year, winning just $185,000 in 18 events, he used the Web.com finals to get his card back.
“I didn’t think it would take this long after ‘06, but it’s a funny game, and things happen,” he said.
“There was a few chances, didn’t work out. But to come back after last three or four years and to get this again is a huge reward.”
The leaderboard was full of Aussies with Geoff Ogilvy finishing tied for fourth, Cameron Smith tied 10th and reigning Austarlian Open champ Matt Jones tied for 15th.
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