It’s good-news, bad-news day for Ames

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Stephen Ames had his golf clubs shipped to Tucson, Ariz., last weekend so they’d be there when he arrived for his next event.

One phone call changed everything.

Thomas Bjorn pulled out of the Match Play Championship with a recurring neck injury, and Ames was first in line to replace him in the 64-man field at La Costa Resort. One minute he was on his way to Tucson for a $3 million PGA Tour tournament, the next he was on the practice range getting ready for a $7.5 million World Golf Championship.

That was the good news.

As the No. 64 seed, Ames drew Tiger Woods in the first round Wednesday.

“Anything can happen,” Ames said, breaking into a smile. “Especially where he’s hitting the ball.”

Ames is not a big fan of this event, but he wasn’t about to miss a chance at the $1.35 million prize.

“You can get it going and knock out your opponent, or it can go the opposite way,” Ames said. “It reflects on who plays well that day.”

Ames and Woods both had short weeks at Riviera.

Woods, the No. 1 seed and a two-time winner of the Accenture Match Play Championship, withdrew from the Nissan Open after making the cut on the number because of the flu. It was the first time in his pro career he left a tournament early because of health reasons.

Ames played only one round, then had to withdraw Friday morning because his caddie – Robert Ames, his brother — was too sick to work and he couldn’t find a replacement that suited his standards.

Vijay Singh is the No. 2 seed and will open against Graeme McDowell. Singh has never advanced beyond the second round in this tournament.

Retief Goosen, the No. 3 seed, starts with Paul Broadhurst of England, who hasn’t competed in match play since the 1991 Ryder Cup at Kiawah Island.

The defending champion is David Toms, who routed Chris DiMarco in the 36-hole match last year, nearly closing him out at the turn before winning, 6 and 5. One of his toughest matches was in the semifinals against Ian Poulter of England, whom Toms will face in the first round Wednesday.

Ames, meanwhile, keeps a backup set of clubs in the Nike trailer. His regular set was being shipped from Tucson.