Pampling Masters play-off

Fraser finishes second after pregnant wife is taken to hospital

Last updated: 30th November 2008

Pampling Masters play-off

Pampling: Finally took his chance in play-off

They're never fun to be in, you work so hard for 72 holes then you still have to go again. That was a great battle

Rod Pampling
Quotes of the week

Fourth round leaderboard
Aus unless stated
R Pampling -12 (won at third play-off hole)
M Fraser -12
R Allenby -9
T Clark (SA) -8
N Green -8
A Noren (Swe) -8

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Rod Pampling won the Australian Masters for the first time after beating Marcus Fraser in a play-off at Huntingdale Golf Club.

The Australian duo were locked together on 12-under-par after four rounds and both managed pars at the opening two holes in sudden death.

Eventually Pampling claimed his home Masters for the first time, holing a three-foot par putt after his compatriot had bogeyed the 18th.

"They're never fun to be in, you work so hard for 72 holes then you still have to go again," the winner said of the play-off. "That was a great battle."

Missed chances

The 39-year-old had missed three birdie opportunities at the end of Sunday to clinch his first tournament win since the 2006 Bay Hill Invitational.

After already spurning one opportunity at the 16th, the Queenslander pushed a six-foot birdie putt to the right at 17 and then couldn't hole a 25-footer at the last.

In the end Pampling had to sign for a 67. Fraser had by then managed a brilliant seven-under effort of 65 that saw him go through the front nine in 30.

The Victorian then had to watch on to see if he would be in with a chance, though his more pressing concern was the health of his wife Carlie, who is eight months' pregnant.

Priority

She had to be taken to hospital for observation for the second time in the day when she fell ill late on in his final round.

"I just hope that she's all right and the baby's okay, that's the priority," Fraser said. "Golf's not even in the picture."

Overnight leader Robert Allenby finished in third. The two-time Masters champion was in contention heading into the final holes at 11-under, only to record a double-bogey five at the 15th.

South Africa's Tim Clark, Nathan Green of Australia and Sweden's Alexander Noren finished tied for fourth at eight-under-par.