IRVING, Texas, CMC – Stephen Ames could not shake off a horrid form this season, slumping in the first round with a one-over 71 at the US $6.5 million Byron Nelson Classic yesterday in a tournament which has none of the top 10 players in the world competing. The Trinidad and Tobago-born pro golfer has been struggling to find form all season, and was in danger of missing a fifth cut from seven tournaments, when he had a bogey-filled day at the TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas.
Ames flattered to deceive as he opened on the back nine with back-to-back birdies and another on the 14th hole, only to bogey the 15th and double bogey the 18th to make the turn at even-par.
He seemed to have steadied the decline on the front nine, but double-bogeyed the second hole, then bogeyed the fifth hole, before hauling two strokes back with birdies on the seventh and ninth holes to end the day a little stronger.
This month has been a nightmare for Ames, missing the cut three times in as many outings during the month in a rut which got started at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, continued at the PLAYERS Championship, and then last week when he flopped again at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.
His form has cost him in the World Rankings, as he has slid to 166th after starting the year at 118th.