Rod Pampling posted a final-round 66 at the PGA Tour Champions Boeing Classic Sunday, and then watched and waited.
He finished a little more than an hour before the final groups came in. He hung around the scoring area, watching the coverage on TV. When Jim Furyk tied him atop the leaderboard at 12 under, Pampling made his way over to the driving range for a bit to hit some golf balls, just in case there was a playoff.
Pampling, 51, was back in front of a TV when Furyk’s par attempt burned the edge of the cup on the par-3 17th hole. That put Pampling back in front by a shot.
Woody Austin was also in the hunt and he teed off on 18 a shot back, tied with Furyk, but Austin’s second shot went into a deep greenside bunker and he needed two swings to get out.
Furyk was also in a greenside bunker on 18 and he blasted out well past the hole, but he did have about a 25-footer for birdie that would’ve forced a playoff but his putt was just wide left, making Pampling a first-time winner on the Champions tour.
“There is so much pressure getting that first win,” he told Golf Channel moments after he clinched the win. “It’s great. Getting to Hawaii next year was one of my goals. I”m looking forward to trying to get the Schwab Cup now.”
Pampling has now won on three PGA Tour circuits: he has three Tour wins, one Korn Ferry Tour victory and now his first Champions tour win.