Confident Pampling makes early running

Rod Pampling cut a confident figure after taking the lead in the first round of the Ford Championship at Doral.

The Australian did not drop a shot en route to an eight-under-par 64 that gave him a one-shot edge over Bob Tway and a two-stroke lead over Scott Hoch at Doral Resort’s Blue Monster.

Pampling, 33, is best known for having the first-round lead at the 1999 British Open at Carnoustie, only to miss the cut after a second-round 86.

He is unlikely to suffer the same fate this week, if only because the course is not as tough.

Pampling, out in the third group of the day, got most of his round in before a testing breeze made its presence felt. He was only once in danger of dropping a stroke, overshooting the par-three 15th green before sinking a six-footer to save par.

“The par-fives were key,” said the long-hitting Pampling, who had tap-in birdies at three of them.

“My swing is pretty solid at the moment. There is not a lot I have to do, other than picking the shot I want to hit and the right club and going ahead and hitting it.”