Ames’ Stellar Play Is the Story

He registered on radar this year by getting blown out by Tiger Woods after an offhand comment about what direction Woods hits it off the tee. But say what you want about Stephen Ames’ game, there’s nothing wrong with his aim.

Armed with only a one-shot lead as he stalked Sunday’s final round of the Players Championship, Ames mowed Sawgrass and everyone standing around him, shooting a five-under-par 67 and winning by six shots.

“It was a great day, obviously,” Ames said. “This is big, yeah. This is characterized as what, the fifth major? I beat the top players in the world this week.”

As far as drama, there wasn’t any after Ames swung an eight-iron and knocked his ball two feet from the pin at the 181-yard par-three 13th. He tapped in for birdie, smiled, and took a four-shot lead.

It was five shots moments later when Retief Goosen bogeyed the 15th and there was nothing left to do but start the money countdown.

It was a $1.44-million payday for Ames, 41, whose second PGA Tour victory was a study in precision.

No one hit more fairways or more greens than Ames, who absorbed his share of hits when he said before he played Woods at the Accenture Match Play Championship that Woods didn’t drive the ball very straight.

Woods defeated Ames, 9-and-8, the biggest rout in tournament history, in only 10 holes, the earliest possible elimination in match play. But even Woods had to compliment Ames this time.

“Pretty impressive,” Woods said.

Ames’ rounds of 71-66-70-67 added to a 14-under 274 and his six-shot margin equaled the second-largest winning margin in the 25-year history of the Players Championship. The 75.378 scoring average was the second-highest final-round average in tournament history -- an average that Ames beat by more than eight shots.

Ames also earned a three-year exemption to the Masters, but he said he isn’t sure he’s going to play because it wasn’t on his schedule and he already had planned a vacation with his wife and two sons in his homeland of Trinidad and Tobago.

Those who started the day close to Ames ended it in a much different position. Vijay Singh trailed by one stroke, shot a 77 and finished 11 shots behind Ames. Sergio Garcia also began only one shot behind Ames, but he had a 78 and wound up 12 shots short of Ames.

Mike Weir, who was three shots behind Ames on Sunday morning, had a 79 and ended 15 shots behind.

Goosen pulled himself together and birdied two of the three holes for a 69, but he only came as close as two shots when Ames made his one slip-up, a double bogey at the par-four ninth.

“He ran away with it,” Goosen said. “He played unbelievable.”

For awhile, Ernie Els made a charge and put some pressure on Ames, but Els played the last five holes in four over and fell from sight. He wasn’t the only one.

“It was heartbreaking watching them play as poorly as they did,” Ames said.

Woods ended a troubling week tied for 22nd after closing with a three-over 75 that included two double bogeys on the back side.

Woods, who skipped his practice round Wednesday to visit his seriously ill father in Cypress, will play a two-day event in Orlando, Fla., today and Tuesday. He didn’t say if he would take another trip to California before the Masters, but said that if he does, he could prepare at Big Canyon Country Club at Newport Beach.

The $2-million Tavistock Cup features pros that live at Isleworth, Fla., competing against pros from nearby Lake Nona.

Woods refused to say his performance this week could be explained by worrying about the health of his father Earl, who is battling cancer.

“It is what it is ... I just did not have it,” he said.

Camilo Villegas, the 24-year-old rookie sensation from Colombia, was five under for the weekend and tied for third, but just missed earning an invitation to the Masters. Villegas earned $384,000 and needed to reach the top 10 in earnings this year, but fell short of No. 10 Stuart Appleby by $94,971.

If he does decide to skip the Masters for a vacation, the Ames family will have much to celebrate. Ames’ wife Jodi was diagnosed with lung cancer in May and had half her lung removed in July. Ames said her recovery is progressing well and she is doing fine.

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Up next

PGA TOUR

BellSouth Classic

* When: Thursday-Sunday.

* Where: TPC of Sugarloaf, Duluth, Ga.

* Defending champion: Phil Mickelson.

LPGA TOUR

Kraft Nabisco

* When: Thursday-Sunday.

* Where: Mission Hills CC, Rancho Mirage.

* Defending champion: Annika Sorenstam.

CHAMPIONS TOUR

Puerto Vallarta Classic

* When: Friday-Sunday.

* Where: Vista Vallarta GC, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

* Defending champion: Inaugural event.