Ames under golf pressure

Ames carded a two-over 73 after a patchy performance that included a double bogey on the 16th and he is joint 103rd on the leaderboard.

He is eight shots behind joint leaders Steve Lowery, of the USA, and the German Alex Cejka, who registered six-under 65 totals at the Stadium Course at the TPC of Scottsdale.

The pair finished a stroke ahead of Americans Jerry Smith, Bo van Pelt, James Driscoll and Brent Geiberger at the US$5.2 million event. Ames, who tumbled six places down the world ratings in the past week to 63rd after missing the cut at last weekend’s Buick Invitational, bogeyed at the third and eighth holes.

And although he improved on the back nine, his birdies on the 15th and the 17th sandwiched his double bogey and he is now a long way off the pace.

Three-time champion Mark Calcavecchia, of the USA, and French Ryder Cup player Thomas Levet were among a group of 12 players on 67, and American world number four Phil Mickelson, winner in 1996 and again last year, carded a 69 to share 29th spot.