Taking Aim

The hottest player on the PGA Tour has yet to win in 2004. Fact is, Stephen Ames has never won on the PGA Tour. But he's been close, and he seems to be getting closer each week.

Ames' latest near-miss was a third-place showing in the Bank of America Colonial, finishing two shots behind winner Steve Flesch after closing with a Sunday-best 64. It was Ames' fourth consecutive top-10 finish and fifth in his last six events. His worst showing during this time is a 13th at The Players Championship.

"I'm close, very close (to winning) right now," Ames said.

Ames, who recently turned 40, has done everything but win during the last two months. And there's been nothing fluky about his rise up the tour's money list and world rankings.

He ranks first in the tour's all-around statistic, thanks to consistent play throughout his bag. He's fourth in scoring average (69.66) and birdies (4.24), fifth in total driving, eighth in greens in regulation (70.5), 25th in putting (1.748) and 28th in sand-save percentage (56.1).

But his most impressive statistic is he ranks second in the crucial final-round scolring average at 68.17, having broken 70 on nine of 13 occasions. Not that he can provide a definitive answer for his closing kick.

"I don't know what it is, not a clue," he said. "Unfortunately, I'm doing it only on Sunday. But I'm happy with the results of this week."

He should be. The third-place showing improved his world ranking to No. 41 -- he started the year at No. 106 -- which virtually ensures him spots in the U.S. Open and British Open. That's important for a guy in his 40s who's played in only 10 majors in his career, his best showing a fifth at the 1997 British Open.

His $360,400 payday at the Colonial moved him into the 12th spot on the tour's money list with $1,557,959, which already ranks as a career-best in his seventh season on tour. He also surpassed the $6 million mark in career earnings.

Ames, who's best finish was a second at the 2002 Players, credits his strong play this season to a variety of factors. Foremost is a switch from Callaway to Nike equipment he believes has helped his driving tremendously (he ranked 125th in total driving last year after he went througn 15 drivers.

"That's made a big difference," Ames said. "I can do whatever I want with the ball now -- hit it high or low, left to right or right to left. My driving has been a huge key."

Ames also has straightened some things out off the course that were hurting his game. Ames, who was born in Trinidad (he's the first touring professional to emerge from that country), went through a stretch of time where he had various problems traveling internationally because of a dispute with U.S. immigration officials. There was a stretch in the late-1990s when he barely met his 15-tournament minimum because of travel constraints.

But he became a Canadian citizen in December -- he and his family live in Calgary -- and that's made travel much simpler. And any golfer will tell you they play their best when they're not dealing with distractions off the course. Sunday was his 28th top-10 finish in 162 career starts, the most top-10s of any current player on tour who has yet to win.

Ames also has been working with a sports psychologist to reduce some of his tension on the course. One reason you've never heard much about Ames is he's never enjoyed a great relationship with the media. Ames said he's been misquoted several times throughout his career, mostly because of the visa problems, and he's always been wary with reporters.

Now, he's visiting the press room on almost a weekly basis. "He's starting to look like a man whose time might be coming soon," CBA analyst Lanny Wadkins recently said of Ames.

Ames knows a lot of guys have come close before without ever getting that oversized check. But he knows he's on a roll, and he wants to see how far it will take him.

"I'm definitely becoming more experienced with this," he said, "and hopefully someday soon that will pull me through."