Pampling wins in Vegas for unlikely third PGA Tour victory

Rod Pampling wasn’t even supposed to be playing golf this week. He got in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open thanks to a PGA Tour clerical error. Seriously.

This Vegas field was supposed to be 132 players, an effort made in deference to the tournament’s first-time November date and the fading sunlight. However, between the PGA Tour telling its players about the field size and the actual creation of the field, the size wasn’t changed in the Tour’s computer systems. So, instead of 132 players getting tee times, another 12 players got into the event. Rod Pampling was one of those 12. And, in the interest of fairness, the Tour let them all play.

The 47-year-old Aussie took full advantage, opening with an 11-under 60 on Thursday at TPC Summerlin to seize the lead. Then, as long-hitting Brooks Koepka and major-winning Lucas Glover seemed to take charge on Saturday and early on Sunday, Pampling hung in there. In the final six holes, Pampling then made his move, one-putting five greens with some combined 80 feet of putts to reel off four birdies. All together, Pampling closed with a 6-under 65 that carried him to his third PGA Tour win — his first since the 2006 Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Pampling’s 20-under 264 total beat Koepka, who was seeking his second PGA Tour win, by two shots and Glover, who was looking for his first win in five-plus years, by three.

It’s a remarkable turnaround for Pampling, who had to regain his PGA Tour status through a win on the Web.com Tour and securing his status through the Web.com Tour Finals.

“I didn’t think it would take this long after (his last win in) ’06, but it’s a funny game, and things happen,” he said. “There was a few chances, didn’t work out. But to come back after last three or four years and to get this again is a huge reward for just the hard work we’ve done.”

The win gives Pampling exempt PGA Tour status until he turns 50, when he can play on PGA Tour Champions. But don’t mistake Pampling now for a player who is just looking to bridge the gap until then.

“I don’t want to go out thinking, oh, Pampling, he’s still out here just throwing in numbers,” he said. “I knew I could still win out here, and this is fantastic, and it justifies the hard work we’ve put in. So I’m looking forward the next few years.”

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.