Ames blows away Woods

And Woods could only manage 22nd, tied with three other golfers on 289. Ames delivered a major performance yesterday on the treacherous TPC at Sawgrass, blowing away the strongest field in golf with a 5-under 67 to win The Players Championship by six shots and earn an unlikely trip to the Masters. Ames made only one mistake, a double bogey on the 10th hole when he took two shots to get out of the bunker, and it looked as if he would have to battle his nerves along the scary back nine of the Stadium Course.

Instead, he poured it on with impeccable shots that stretched his lead so much that the tiny island of a 17th green was only another hole on his way to a dominant victory.

Ames finished at 14-under 274, six shots clear of two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen, who closed with a 69. He earned US$1.44 million for his second PGA Tour victory, and also got a three-year exemption to the Masters. Only a month ago, the 41-year-old from Trinidad was lampooned for teasing Woods before facing him in the first round of the Match Play Championship, saying anything he could happen, “especially where he’s hitting the ball.”

Woods read his remarks, then sent Ames into the record books with a 9-and-8 victory, the shortest match mathematically possible over 18 holes.

Ames was reminded of those comments throughout the Florida swing, but not anymore. He’s the Players Champion, the tournament considered golf’s fifth major because of the strong field and demanding test.

His victory on a sun-baked afternoon was reminiscent of some of Woods’dominant victories in the majors — build a lead early, and let everyone else collapse trying to chase him.

Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia and Mike Weir stumbled early. Ernie Els collapsed late. Goosen got within two shots of Ames at one point on the back nine, but that didn’t last long. Top finishers: 274 Stephen Ames; 280 Retief Goosen; 283 Pat Perez, Jim Furyk, Camilo Villegas, Henrik Stenson; 284 Jose Maria Olazabal; 285 Ernie Els, Vaughn Taylor, Bo Van Pelt, John Rollins, Carl Pettersson, Vijay Singh.