Sunday Session: Queensland golfer Rod Pampling back at US Masters for first time in 10 years

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• March 31st 2017
• 2 days ago
• /video/video.news.com.au/Sport/Golf/

Rod Pampling. Picture: Getty Images

QUEENSLAND’S Rod Pampling is back at the US Masters for the first time in 10 years this week and admits he cannot get to Augusta quickly enough. He is determined to make the most of an experience he thought he may never savour again.

You once said one of your great Augusta highlights was watching Allan Border watch you. Remember that?

I couldn’t believe it. He was a hero of mine growing up and there he was following me. I was like, ‘what are you doing here?’ I have played with him at the Wynnum Pro-Am since but at the time it was really special.

Every year there seems to be a youngster from up Redcliffe-Caboolture way who is better than you were at the same age but you just outlast them all. How?

I think my swing has helped because there are not too many quirky moves. It is pretty consistent. Touch wood there are not a lot of things that can go wrong. The bottom line is I still love playing. The desire to compete against the young guys is enormous. It drives me. I want to beat them. You go back to your Allan Borders who never lose that desire, and thankfully in golf I get the chance to do it.

Rod Pampling will return to the US Masters for the first time in 10 years. Picture: Getty ImagesSource:AFP

Your Masters appearance traces back to 2015 when you won on the web.com tour despite having just returned from your father Ken’s funeral in Australia. How did you pull that off?

I was so wrapped up in the game before (Ken’s death) I just wasn’t relaxed enough. Then when Dad passed away the stress and the focus just wasn’t on golf. I wasn’t even thinking about my golf swing. I was just thinking about how Mum was. But then as we came down the stretch I thought “Ken is doing something to help me here”. Then bang.

What strikes you most about Augusta?

Everything and nothing changes. It’s amazing how they do it at Augusta. You might get a hole that is 30 yards longer but it still looks the same. They changed the wine cellar from the time I was last there but you could not tell from the outside. I love the way the course is set out. I thought I might never get back there again but here I am. It’s inspiring.

What’s unique about Augusta crowd-wise?

There are a lot of rules and people behave a lot better. There is none of the “get in the hole” yelling. It’s __like it used to be. There is no running allowed. It’s all walking.

There must be some times when people are desperate to run?

I always __like it when they open the gates at 8am. Everyone is trying to get their location. You see these power walkers go as quickly as they can without running. The gates open and you go back in time when people are polite and respectful.

Rod Pampling celebrates a birdie putt with his caddie Brendan Woolley. Picture: Getty ImagesSource:AFP

I heard once that your late father Kenny shouted “that’s my boy” when they put your name up on the leaderboard. Can you remember that?

I can remember people being so polite that they actually knew he was my father and made way for him behind the ninth and 18th greens so he could watch me. That’s Augusta for you. They’ll do that. I remember seeing him and thinking “how did he get in there?” Hopefully they will do the same for my mum this year.

It must seem like an eternity since you and Angela drove around the United States on the secondary tour as a young couple chasing your dream, but it’s a big part of your story isn’t it?

Yes. I started back at Caboolture and went through the trainee system and played the Troppo tour. I grinded my way around the US for three years, driving around losing money, come home and make money and go back.

Did you have a flashpoint moment?

The amazing story was after my first year on the web.com tour I lost my card but I left Ange back in Carlsbad in the US. I still think back to how I left her in a strange place for eight days because we just did not have the money for both of us to go home. We sold the car so I could get a flight to Australia. Then I returned to get through first, second and third stage of tour school and we kicked on.

Does that sort of experience ground you?

It means that when you do break through you don’t get carried away. It’s great, but Dad and Mum never allowed me to be too cocky.

You saw Tiger Woods from close range during his halcyon years. Have you seen anything better?

No. That was the best by far. Ridiculous. He did everything. No weakness. There was one year when he led every stat on tour except driving accuracy. Fred Funk won that. And the story goes Fred sort of shaped the stats so he could be No.1. No one will ever be No. 1 in every category again. I don’t think Tiger’s swing is allowing him to play the shots he used to play but I am sure he has a lot of people giving him the right advice.

Do you take in the majesty of Augusta during the Masters or are you too focused on the moment?

Well that is why I am leaving early on Saturday, to do all that soaking in before the tournament starts. I will take some photos. You can’t be focused all the time on golf. I’m 47. This may be the last time. I never thought that in 2007. I might stop and have a look around.

Is there any young player catching your eye at the moment?

There are a ton of guys who are amazing but I like Ryan Ruffels. He has the special sound when he hits the ball that not a lot of people have. He is doing the hard work.

How can you tell quality by the sound of the ball?

Well it’s like you covering a cricket game where you hear some guys hit the ball and for some reason it just sounds different. like Mark Waugh having extra time. When Ryan Ruffels hits the ball it is a great sound.

Do you still follow South Sydney closely in the NRL?

Yes. I was over here when they won the premiership but managed to watch it and I have a little bet with a mate (from Redcliffe) Paul Greentree (every time they play the Broncos). I won for quite a few years but I’ve been losing lately and there could be more tough times ahead.

You have never missed the cut at Augusta. Were you inspired or does the course suit you?

Both. It sets up great for me visually. It fits my eye. I loved tree-lined golf courses. It just tells you what shot you should hit. If you miss a green, you need imagination to get the ball to the hole. If you ever think you have got the course, that is your biggest mistake. The challenge never ends.

Originally published as Pampling swings back to Augusta