Monday 7 November 2016 13:58, UK
Rod Pampling claimed his first PGA Tour title in more than 10 years in a thrilling finish to the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas.
Pampling led by a stroke going down the 72nd hole at TPC Summerlin and secured victory in style by holing a long birdie putt to end any hopes Brooks Koepka and Lucas Glover had of overcoming their deficit.
The Australian had started the week by shooting a 12-under round of 60 but he could only follow that up with a 68 and a 71 to drop two strokes behind former US Open champion Glover.
But Pampling was able to claim a share of the lead by the halfway stage of his closing round, making four birdies on his front nine while playing partners Koepka and Glover struggled.
Koepka had two birdies and a bogey, while Glover went one stroke better to join Pampling on 17 under at the turn.
Pampling's hopes dimmed with bogeys at the 10th and 12th, while Glover dropped a shot at the 11th before birdieing the next two holes to regain his advantage.
But that lead would not last as Pampling made up ground at the 13th, 14th and 15th, where Glover also made a birdie to join the Aussie on 19-under heading down the stretch.
Koepka made his third back-nine birdie at the 16th to move within a shot of the leaders and there was trouble for Glover at 17, where his tee-shot found sand and he failed to make a 17-foot putt for par to drop out of a tie with Pampling.
That left Pampling a shot ahead of his playing partners and Glover did his hopes no help when his drive found the rough at the 18th, his approach faring no better as he needed three shots to reach the green.
Koepka put his approach just inside 20 feet, but Pampling also found the green and converted from 32 feet to claim his first PGA Tour win since the Bay Hill Invitational in March 2006.
"It's a great feeling," Pampling said. "It's amazing. It's extremely rewarding. Winning Arnold Palmer's event in '06 is still on top but coming back from what we had the last few years is phenomenal."
A tie for fourth place went to Italy's Francesco Molinari, who produced the best round of the day to move up from 46th place overnight.
Molinari had eight birdies and an eagle in a 10-under 60 and shared fourth place with Harris English (67) and Geoff Ogilvy (68).
