Neither player was in close range the first day, as Bart Bryant and Dean Wilson shot 66s, a stroke in front of former Bay Hill winners Ernie Els and Chad Campbell, Ben Curtis, Lucas Glover and Jason Gore. Pampling entered the picture Friday when he shot 65, the day’s low round, for 135 and, with Robert Allenby, trailed Glover (67-67) by one stroke. Pampling, who had only two previous victories during his 12-year international career, surged into his four-stroke lead Saturday when he birdied two of the last three holes for 67—202. Owen was at 206 with Glover (72) and Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke, who tied the tournament record with his nine-under-par 63.

Owen took full advantage after Pampling faltered with an out-of-bounds drive at the 13th hole Sunday. Owen went a stroke ahead with his sixth birdie of the day at the 16th and had a two-shot lead when Pampling bogeyed the 17th before Owen missed a 40-inch par putt and, too hastily, a shorter one coming back to give Pampling the new life he needed to grab the victory.