Queenslander Rod Pampling has won his fifth career title – but few have been sweeter than today’s Web.Com Tour triumph in South Carolina.
Pampling led from start to finish with an extraordinary 25-under total sufficient for a commanding two-stroke victory in the BMW Charity Pro-Am at the Thorndale Club.
The 45-year-old, playing for the first time since his father Ken’s sudden passing last month, needed no worse than bogey on the par-four 18th with a two-shot lead over American Kelly Kraft.
His bunker shot to 20 feet left Pampling with two putts for victory, but he took just one with a perfectly struck putt that prompted a huge fist pump.
The first win on US soil since the 2006 Bay Hill Invitational was clearly emotional and extremely proud to have all but locked up his PGA Tour card for next season.
“It feels fantastic,” the affable Pampling beamed before being asked to reflect on what the win would have mean to his father.
“He’d have just given me a big bear hug,” Pampling managed with tears welling in his eyes.
Pampling, whose runner-up finish at the Emirates Australian Open in November ensured a berth at The Open Championship, will now turn his focus towards St Andrew’s in July.
“It’s certainly a very big step towards retaining my card and getting back on tour. But work has to be done, even the top 25 guys (on the Web.Com Tour) struggle to get early starts (next season),” he said.
“But for now, it frees me up for The Open with not as much pressure to come back and play straight away.
“It’s tough to win anywhere, the talent is so deep these days, but we’ve had so much support and to win again is fantastic,
“It’s so much hard work to get here and I’m just thrilled we got here.”
“It’s awesome that we’ve done it.”
Pampling opened with consecutive 63s in the multiple-course event then watched his lead shrink with a 70 in the third round.
A bogey on the fourth today dropped him back to square for his round and with Kraft (66) and his fellow American Roland Thatcher (60) charging hard, it was the moment of truth.
But true to his renowned fighting spirit, Pampling birdied the 5th and 7th before four more on the back nine to cap an extraordinary week of scoring.
“(The standard) is extremely high. I don’t care where you’re playing … I’m 25 under and just won by two.
“It just shows it’s deep. You have to go low, that’s how deep (the talent pool) is.
“Back in the day maybe 30-40 could win, but now 120 guys can each week – it’s tough golf.”
Fellow Queenslander Bronson La’Cassie fired a closing 67 to finish tied fourth at 20 under, while Victorian Alistair Presnell shot a 70 to finish T14 at 16 under.