Ames takes aim at TPC title

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Stephen Ames learned not to poke fun of Tiger Woods.

Next up is an opponent that might be even more daunting – the TPC at Sawgrass, a notorious course that lived up to its reputation Saturday at The Players Championship with 19 lead changes, stunning collapses and a leader who is looking for redemption in more ways than one.

Ames was more simple than spectacular, and that was enough to scratch out a 2-under-par 70 that gave him a one-shot lead over Vijay Singh and Sergio Garcia going into the final round of the PGA Tour’s showcase event.

Ames kept it on grass, not the bottom of a lake, which always helps.

And he avoided the mistakes that crushed the hopes of Arron Oberholser, who put two balls in the water and tumbled out of the lead into a tie for 16th in the final two holes.

Ames was at 9-under 207 and in position to erase a couple of dubious memories.

Four years ago, he closed with a 67 and looked as if he might win until Craig Perks chipped in for eagle on the 16th, holed a 35-foot birdie putt on the 17th and chipped in for par on the final hole for a two-shot victory.

More recently, he is known as the guy who taunted a Tiger.

Ames faced Woods in the first round of the Match Play Championship, and said he had a good chance to beat the world’s No. 1 player, “especially where he’s hitting it.” Woods read the comments, then sent Ames into the record books with a 9-and-8 victory, winning the first nine holes.

He knows better not to boast about how he has tamed Sawgrass for three days, and a reminder came as he walked toward the 13th green and saw Adam Scott in the group behind him. Scott and Ames started the day at 7 under, one shot out of the lead. Scott was at 3 over through 12 holes.

Ames quickly did some math.

“Doesn’t that add up to 10 over for the day?” he said to Robert Ames, his brother and caddie.

Scott, the 2004 winner of golf’s fifth major, shot 45 on the front nine and wound up at 82.

Woods was seven strokes back after a 73. He 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!”

Ex-Pullman resident Kirk Triplett shot 76 and is at 217.