Golf: Ames wins Players Championship

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida - Canadian golfer Stephen Ames, ice-cool in difficult final-round conditions, cruised to his second PGA Tour title with a six-shot victory at the Players Championship today.

Despite lightning-fast greens and thick rough at the Stadium Course, the 41-year-old born in Trinidad and Tobago held off some of the biggest names in golf with a five-under-par 67.

Although Ames made a rare slip-up by double-bogeying the par-four 10th, he reeled off five birdies and an eagle-three at the 16th to finish on 14-under 274.

After narrowly missing a 24-footer for birdie at the last, he tapped in for par and raised his arms in celebration as he secured the winner's cheque for US$1.4 million ($2.4 million), the richest purse on the PGA Tour.

World number three Retief Goosen, four strokes behind overnight, finished second after sinking a 12-foot birdie putt at the last for a 69.

Americans Jim Furyk (72) and Pat Perez (71), Swede Henrik Stenson (73) and PGA Tour rookie Camilo Villegas of Colombia (71) tied for third at five under.


New Zealander Michael Campbell missed the cut at the weekend. 

- REUTERS