Rod Pampling wins second PGA Tour Champions title
Rod Pampling – file photo USGA
It was an Australasian quinella in this week’s PGA Tour Champions event in Cary, North Carolina, with Australian Rod Pampling winning his second PGA Tour Champions title with a two-shot win over New Zealand’s Steve Alker at the SAS Championship.
Pampling secured a cheque for US$315,000, taking his career earnings on the PGA Tour Champions to US$3.7 million since first joining in 2020 and he moves to 17th on this year’s Schwab Cup with US$1.o8 million.
Pampling led from his opening round of 66 and took a one-shot lead over Alker into today’s final round and although the final margin was two, his final hole bogey perhaps flattered his chasers in what was a dominant performance.
Pampling made reference to the fact that it was on this same week that he won one of his PGA Tour titles when winning the Shriners event in Las Vegas wire to wire. “Maybe this is my lucky week,” said the Queenslander.
“Sometimes it takes a little longer than others but I am just so happy to get back into the winner’s circle again,” he added when asked why it had taken him so long to win again after his first win at the Beoeing Classic in
Pampling was forced to play 33 holes today after bad weather had caused Saturday’s play to be suspended.
The 54-year-old gains access to next season’s opening event in Hawaii for winners the previous season.
Alker’s runner-up finish takes him to second place on the money list behind Steve Stricker, moving past Bernhard Langer with his finish this week.
