Ames makes meteoric rise

The 41-year old, who has slid several places in the rankings this year after starting the season 27th, was the most significant feature of the rankings issued yesterday.

A fantastic spell in the 2004 season which saw him win his first PGA Tour event, culminated in a 17th place ranking at the end of that season, his highest-ever world ranking.

Ames captured the Players Championship at Sawgrass in style on Sunday when he fashioned a 5-under 67 to win by six strokes, after beginning the day on top of the leaderboard.

The rise in the rankings for Ames comes after a start to the season that saw him miss the cut twice, having to withdraw from a tournament and being emphatically dumped out of the World Golf Championship in the first round by Tiger Woods.

Woods continues to lead the rankings with a significant advantage over No 2, Fiji’s Vijay Singh.

The only change in the top-10 saw American Jim Furyk exchange places with fellow countryman David Toms for seventh spot.

Meanwhile Ames’ victory in The Players Championship was feted throughout his native Trinidad and Tobago yesterday, earning plaudits from a government minister and intense media coverage throughout the twin-island nation.

Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Roger Boynes called Ames, 41, an example of the athletic greatness found in the Caribbean country of 1.3 million.

Ames, one of Trinidad and Tobago’s few internationally known sports figures, won the US PGA Tour event in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Sunday, earning US$1.44 million.

The golfer’s mother, Marilyn, said she watched the tournament anxiously from her home in a suburb of the capital, Port-of-Spain.

“I only relaxed when he hit his tee shot on the 18th hole. You can’t really make many mistakes at that point,” Marilyn Ames told The Associated Press.

Ames, the son of a Texaco engineer, grew up at the company’s camp in southern Trinidad, playing golf on the oil firm’s rolling course, his mother said.

He lives with his wife and two sons in Canada, where he has become a citizen, but returns occasionally to Trinidad and Tobago. Ames had to cancel a trip to Trinidad so he can play at the Masters in Augusta, Georgia.

RANKINGS: 1. Tiger Woods - 796.79 2. Vijay Singh - 567.88 3. Retief Goosen - 417.80 4. Phil Mickelson - 325.51 5. Ernie Els - 333.57 6. Sergio Garcia - 310.32 7. Jim Furyk - 266.76 8. David Toms - 283.88 9. Adam Scott - 245.45 10 Luke Donald - 255.85 27th Stephen Ames - 174.43.

(CMC)