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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, March 27, 2006

Ames tames TPC, field with six-shot victory

By DOUG FERGUSON
Associated Press

Stephen Ames sank a 25-foot eagle putt from just off the green on the 16th hole en route to victory at The Players Championship.

STEPHEN MORTON | Associated Press

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — An embarrassing loss to Tiger Woods is in the past. A trip to the Masters might not be in his future. All that mattered to Stephen Ames was playing the best round of his life to overwhelm the best players in golf yesterday in The Players Championship.

A month after making fun of Woods, Ames won like him.

He hit impeccable iron shots to build a big lead on the treacherous TPC at Sawgrass, then let everyone collapse in a series of wrecks around him. When he had fired at his last flag, Ames had a 5-under 67 — the best round of a demanding final round — and won by six shots over two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen.

"This is big," Ames said. "This is characterized as the fifth major. I beat the top players in the world."

He finished at 14-under 274, earned $1.44 million from the richest purse on the PGA Tour, and earned an unlikely trip to the Masters in two weeks.

Whether he goes remains to be seen.

Ames' wife, Jodi, is recovering from lung cancer. His sons, ages 9 and 6, are starting their two-week spring break and Ames has a vacation planned in his native Trinidad.

"I had no plans of playing at Augusta," he said. "My priorities have always been family first. If it comes down to that, it's probably going to be a two-week vacation. ... I'd rather go on vacation, to be truthful."

The way he played on a sun-baked afternoon on Sawgrass, he might be a force at the Masters.

It was the second-toughest Sunday at The Players Championship, yet Ames made it feel like a practice round. He showed no nerves and said he felt none. His 67 from the final group was the best score by two shots.

The only blip was a double bogey on the 10th hole, when mud on his ball caused his approach to plug into a bunker, and it took him two shots to get out. His lead was cut in half to two strokes, and with the terror of the back nine awaiting, it was set up for another dramatic finish.

Instead, Ames poured it on with magnificent shots, starting with a 3-iron into 15 feet on the par-5 11th to set up a two-putt birdie. Then came an 8-iron on the par-3 13th that caught the ridge and rolled to 2 feet for birdie. He took only 12 putts on the back nine, including a 25-footer for eagle from just off the green at No. 16.

"I think I did that this week, put myself in another gear," Ames said.