There is a new set of Srixon Z785 irons and RTX wedges in the bag but Rod Pampling has revealed the off-season ritual he hopes will spark his 2019 campaign; rounds of golf with eldest son Sam.
Pampling returns this week to the site of his last win on the PGA Tour, TPC Summerlin for the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, where he went wire-to-wire thanks predominantly to an extraordinary opening round of 11-under 60 two years ago.
There were glimpses of that type of form two weeks ago at the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges in Korea when Pampling had five birdies in the space of 10 holes in his final round of 68, the type of play he hopes to carry forward to Las Vegas.
Speaking to PGA Tour Media following his opening round of 70 in Korea, Pampling said that rather than hours spent on the range in the short off-season he honed his game via regular father-son games with Sam at home in Texas.
“I’ve been doing a little bit of work on my golf game but it’s just mainly been playing,” Pampling said.
“I’ve managed to play a lot with him almost every afternoon and that’s been fun. It’s brought a bit of excitement back into the game.”
Only a clerical error provided Pampling with a place in the field two years ago in a tournament that has proven productive for Australasian players in the past.
Greg Norman won the Panasonic Las Vegas Invitational in 1986 and New Zealand’s Phil Tataurangi and Aussies Stuart Appleby and Andre Stolz claimed the title in three successive years from 2002-2004.
Joining Pampling in the field this week are fellow Aussies Cameron Davis, Curtis Luck, Matt Jones and John Senden with Danny Lee to play his first event since becoming a father.
This week shapes as a crucial one for Davis in particular who after an impressive showing in the Safeway Open will play next week’s Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico before returning to defend his Australian Open title at The Lakes Golf Club.
