Ames moves up again in world golf rankings

PONTE VEDRA: Trinidad and Tobago-born international golfer Stephen Ames continued his steady rise up the World Rankings released on Monday. The 40-year-old Ames failed to make the cut at his last three tournaments —  the British Open in Scotland, the Buick Open and last weekend’s International —  but he rose one place up to 18th. The United States’ Tiger Woods, without a major title since the United States Open two years ago, has equalled Greg Norman’s record total of 331 weeks as world number one.

Norman held the world number one position at 11 different time between September 14, 1986 and January 4, 1998, but Woods has now been number one for a record 261st consecutive week. Second-placed South African Ernie Els and world No 3 Vijay Singh of Fiji could overtake the American if either wins this week’s United States PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin. There was no change in the world’s top 10 with Americans Phil Mickelson and Davis Love III occupying spots four and five respectively. Canada-based Ames, the first player from the English-speaking Caribbean to qualify for the US PGA Tour, has nine Top-10 finishes in 20 appearances, including a maiden victory at the Western Open earlier this month. Ames has maintained his sixth place with US $2.75 million on the PGA’s 2004 money list behind money leader Singh, who tops the list with just over US $5.8 million.

World Top-20 Golfers: 1 (1) Tiger Woods (USA); 2. (2) Ernie Els (South Africa); 3. (3) Vijay Singh (Fiji); 4. (4) Phil Mickelson (USA); 5. (5) Davis Love III (USA); 6. (6) Retief Goosen (South Africa); 7. (7) Mike Weir (Canada); 8. (8) Padraig Harrington (Ireland); 9. (9) Jim Furyk 5.43 (USA); 10. (10) Sergio Garcia (Spain); 11. (12) Kenny Perry (USA); 12. (11) Adam Scott (Australia); 13. (13) Chad Campbell (USA); 14. (14) Darren Clarke (Britain); 15. (15) Stuart Appleby (Australia); 16. (16) Todd Hamilton (USA); 17. (17) Scott Verplank (USA); 18. (19) Stephen Ames (TT/Canada); 19. (18) David Toms (USA); 20. (24) Jay Haas (USA).