The Local Golfer's Aussie Legends:

Origins of Australia's PGA Greats

(1 Minute Read)

Renowned for being a thorn in many a champion's side, our very own 'lightning' Rod Pampling exemplifies a true Aussie battler, living and breathing golf, never ceasing to give up, even when standing next to the great Tiger Woods! 

Hole No.4 - Rod Pampling

Fun Fact: Pampling has a habit of ruining world number 1’s monumentous streaks, defeating Tiger Woods, and Brooks Koepka when they were both unstoppable.

Hailing from Redcliffe, Queensland, Rodney Pampling (1969) embraced a coastal upbringing. Avidly golfing with his father, Pampling called Caboolture Golf Club home. 

Loving golf from a young age, it's only natural that Pampling then became the Caboolture greenskeeper; Who would question the groundskeeper taking a couple of swings at the end of the day?

Taking to the Pro circuit in 1994, Pampling would have a long-standing PGA career, securing his first competitive victory in 1999; he went on to have a top 5 finish in the 2005 Masters, bagging multiple PGA Tour victories between 2004-2006. To date of everyone to play on the PGA tour, Pampling is ranked 125th on the all time earners list, which is no small feat.

We enjoy career highlights when we celebrate our Aussie Legends, so naturally, in true Aussie spirit, we must take a look at our very own giant killer. Pampling defeated at the time world number 1 Tiger Woods at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which to date Woods has won 8 times, more than any other golfer. Pampling took the title amidst one of Woods' most successful times; 2006, the year Woods would win seven consecutive PGA Tour events. Later in the back nine of his career, 47 year old Pampling would come up against rising star Brooks Koepka in the 2016 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Pampling left victorius, defeating Koepka, who went on to win both the US Open and PGA Championship in the coming year. It was not long after, that Koepka became world number one.

Using his success, Pampling created the Rod Pampling Charity Classic donating all funds made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Pampling's charitable efforts have raised hundreds of thousands for a good cause, all whilst inspiring the next generation to the game of golf.

Pampling's son Samuel is following in his father's footsteps, winning junior competitions and enjoying the sport. When he isn't supporting his son on the greens, Pampling can be found fishing or swinging away on the PGA Tour Champions.

Short and sweet this week, we want to celebrate all that our latest Aussie Legend has done for the sport and his community. Of course, not many can claim to have gotten one over on an in-form Tiger Woods, but Rod Pampling can smile the winner's grin, and that's more than enough for us.