Ames takes charge at Sawgrass

Stephen Ames took on the Sawgrass course at full strength and finished a gruelling round with a rare smile, surviving with a 2-under 70 to take a one-shot lead in The Players

Championship yesterday.

Ames didn’t do anything spectacular down the stretch. All theCanadian did was keep it simple, the best way to survive the notorious TPC at Sawgrass that crushed the hopes of Arron Oberholser, constantly fooled Tiger Woods and slapped around anyone who made the slightest mistake.

When the debris was cleared away, Ames was at 9-under 207 and one shot clear of Vijay Singh and Sergio Garcia. At this rate, the winner of the US PGA Tour’s richest event might be the last player standing. Singh played his final 10 holes without a bogey for a 70, making him a serious threat to end six months without a US tour victory.

Garcia missed a 2-foot par putt on the 13th and was on the ropes until he found his legs over the treacherous closing holes and wound up with 70.

Compared with so many others, their rounds might be considered routine.

Woods was seven strokes back after a 73. He never could figure out the wind and was so frustrated after a bogey on the sixth hole that he slung his putter some 25 feet toward his bag, pulled off his cap and said angrily, “Stop making mistakes!”

Sawgrass wouldn’t have it any other way.

It sets up what should be an entertaining Sunday for the richest prize on the U.S. PGA Tour, with 16 players within five shots of the lead and no one safe until the scorecard is signed.

Ames learned his lesson at the Match Play Championship not to poke fun at Woods. He would be wise to say only pleasantries about Sawgrass, a course where players are only one swing away from triple bogey.

Ames, born in Trinidad and Tobago and now a Canadian citizen, made news at La Costa when he said he had a chance to beat Woods in the first round of match play, “especially where he’s hitting it.”

Woods read the comments, then sent Ames into the record books with a 9-and-8 victory.

The only 9 and 8 that mattered on Saturday was the leaderboard— Ames at 9 under, Singh and Garcia at 8 under.

Besides, Ames has been around Sawgrass enough to show it plenty of respect.

He was the runner-up four years ago, poised for a playoff until an unlikely finish by New Zealander Craig Perks, who chipped in for eagle on the 16th,made a long birdie putt on the17th, and chipped in for par on the 18th for a two-shot win. And a glance across the fairway early on the back nine told him plenty about how tough yesterday could be. Ames saw that Scott was 3 over for the tournament, then quickly did some math. Ames and Scott had started the third round one shot out of the lead at seven under.

“Holy, geez,” Ames said. “It can happen.” And it did.

(AP)