Aggressive Pampling feeling free for PGA

Rod Pampling's drought-breaking win in Las Vegas earlier this month has changed his mindset heading into Thursday's Australian PGA at Royal Pines.

Australia's Rod Pampling

Veteran Rod Pampling will take a more aggressive approach to his golf at the Australian PGA. (AAP)

Veteran Rod Pampling will take a more aggressive approach to his golf at this weekend's Australian PGA at Royal Pines after being spurred on by his win in Las Vegas earlier this month.

Pampling's win was his first in 10 years on the US PGA Tour, and secured him an exemption card for the next two seasons.

And with the pressure released, the 47-year-old expects to be able to take each tournament on with a new-found freedom - evident in his tie for fourth at the Australian Open a fortnight ago.

"It kind of doesn't matter what you do - it's just that freedom," he said.

"It allows you to be getting a little more aggressive at a shot, a second shot, you're just not trying to protect any more."

The 47-year-old also thinks it will be of a significant benefit to his game.

Prior to Pampling's win at the Shriners Hospital Open, he had not finished in the top-25 of a US PGA tournament since May 2015.

However with a new lease on life in the form of an exemption, he believes that trend could easily change.

"It's a huge burden off the shoulders," he said.

"You'll never want to throw a tournament away with nine holes to go, but I think it will allow you to get into that position a lot more."

The win will also allow Pampling to organise his playing schedule as he sees fit.

At times in 2016 he barely played week-to-week golf, before embarking on a run of nine straight tournaments at the end of the year as he took up any opportunities that became available.

However he said that can now change.

"That's just what you had to do," he said.

"But now I can just pick and choose what I want to do. That's where the freedom comes in. If I want to have a break I have a break, if not I'll have a game."


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Source: AAP



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