Rod Pampling ends decade-long wait for PGA Tour win

07 November 2016 12:08

Rod Pampling birdied four of the last six holes at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open to win his first PGA Tour title in 10 years.

Gains on the 13th, 14th and 15th were followed by a 25-foot putt for birdie on the last as the 47-year-old Australian finished two shots clear of Brooks Koepka and gained his first PGA success since the 2006 Bay Hill Invitational.

Koepka also made a late charge, with three birdies in the last six holes taking him to 18-under par for the tournament, but overnight leader Lucas Glover bogeyed the last two holes to slip to third, a further shot behind.

Italy's Francesco Molinari timed his charge too late, with a fourth-round 61 seeing him jump from 46th to fourth on the final day, four shots behind Pampling.

Pampling started the event by equalling the course record in Las Vegas but a 71 in the third round saw him start the final day one stroke behind Glover.

He reached the turn in the lead after birdies on the fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth but bogeys on the 10th and 12th dropped him a shot behind Glover.

His three successive gains drew him level, with Glover also birdieing the 13th and 15th, but while Pampling finished in style, the American found sand on the 17th and also bogeyed the last.

Koepka was one under for the round through 12 having holed from 62 feet for birdie on the second, gaining another shot on the fourth but then three-putting from 13 feet on the fifth for bogey.

But the American picked up shots on the 13th, 15th and 16th as he finished second for the third time on the PGA Tour.

Source: PA