Pamps fires 60 on the way to Vegas victory

He behaved like the mother-in-law who just wouldn’t leave.

Yet Queenslander Rod Pampling deservedly added his name to the history books as the winner of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open this week.

Yet it could so easily have been so much more – at least as far as the history books were concerned.

‘Pamps’ fired an incredible 11-under-par 60 in the opening round of the event at TPC Summerlin, just one shy of becoming one of the few to shoot golf’s magic number, 59 .

Incredibly a birdie putt on the 18th slid just past the cup, denying him another piece of history.

It was the round of his life…but Pampling was not satisfied with that went on to win the tournament – an event where he wasn’t even supposed to be in the field.

Despite reaching the veteran age of 47, Pampling showed he could still match it with the young lions, firing nine birdies and two eagles, including a tap-in on the par-5 16th hole to get to 11 under. He then parred the final two holes on the par-71 layout.

It was later revealed Pampling was one of 12 golfers who only got into the field thanks to a clerical error made by the Tour.

With the Las Vegas event being pushed back to a November date, the plan was to reduce the field to 132 players, but because of the mix-up, 144 actually teed it up last week.

Pampling’s historic round saw him so close to joining an elite band of players, Al Geiberger, Chip Beck, David Duval and Paul Goydos to shoot 59, while Jim Furyk has a club all of his own after shooting 58 in the final round of the Travelers Championship.

Pampling showed what a calm and collected professional he was when he missed that record-equalling putt at the last.

He shrugged and went on to win the tournament, using the lowest round of his career as a stepping stone to one of the biggest prize cheques of his career.

“It’s just nice to know I can still match it with the young guys and I know I have the game to compete out here,” said the modest champion.

You can say that again.