Nina Caldwell
Stephen Ames is a professional golfer with Trinidadian, Canadian, and Portuguese heritage. He is the first touring professional golfer from Trinidad and Tobago and has gone on to win many awards, including the 2007 and 2009 Children's Miracle Network Classic, and the 2017 Mitsubishi Electric Classic. Ames is also known for his defeat by Tiger Woods in 2006, after he provoked the world number one with comments about his performance. Ames is a supporter of junior golf initiatives and hosts the annual Stephen Ames Cup, which features Canadian and Trinidadian junior players. He also co-hosts a charity golf tournament for kids and owns several restaurants in Calgary, including the Vintage Chophouse.
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What You'll Learn
Stephen Ames' early golfing career
Stephen Ames was born in Trinidad and Tobago and took up golf early in life, as his grandmother was a two-time golf champion in the country. Ames won a golf scholarship to the United States, attending the College of Boca Raton in Florida, and turned professional in 1987.
Ames's first victory came in 1989 when he won the Trinidad and Tobago Open. Two years later, in 1991, he won his first professional title at the Pensacola Open on the Ben Hogan Tour (now the Web.com Tour).
In 1992, Ames successfully tried out for the European Tour Qualifying School. He spent five seasons on the European Tour, consistently ranking in the top 80 on the Order of Merit. During this time, he won the 1994 Open V33 Grand Lyon in France and the 1996 Benson & Hedges International Open in England.
In 1997, Ames earned exempt status for the 1998 PGA Tour season by finishing third at the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. However, due to visa issues, he was unable to compete for almost six months in 1999.
Ames became the first touring professional to emerge from Trinidad and Tobago, and he has since been inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.
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Ames' rise to fame
Stephen Ames is a professional golfer with Trinidadian, Canadian, and Portuguese heritage. Ames was born in Trinidad and Tobago and began playing golf at a young age, encouraged by his grandmother, a two-time golf champion in Trinidad and Tobago. His golfing skills earned him a scholarship to the United States, and he turned professional in 1987. Ames won his first professional title in 1989 at the Trinidad and Tobago Open.
In 1991, Ames won the Pensacola Open on what was then the Ben Hogan Tour (now the Web.com Tour). He then spent five seasons on the European Tour, winning the 1994 Open V33 Grand Lyon in France and the 1996 Benson & Hedges International Open in England. In 1997, Ames finished third at the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, earning exempt status for the 1998 season. However, due to visa difficulties, he was unable to play for almost six months in 1999.
Ames won his first PGA Tour title in 2004 at the Cialis Western Open, competing against many of the world's best professionals, including Tiger Woods. In 2005, Ames initiated an international Ryder Cup-style competition called the Stephen Ames Cup, an annual tournament between the Canadian Junior Golf Association and Trinidad & Tobago Golf Association. Ames also started the Stephen Ames Foundation in 2005 to fund junior golf programs and other children's initiatives in Canada and Trinidad and Tobago.
In 2006, Ames won The Players Championship at the TPC at Sawgrass, playing against 48 of the top 50 golfers in the world, including Tiger Woods, who he defeated by a record-equaling six-stroke margin. Ames became the third Canadian to win on the PGA Tour Champions with his victory at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic in 2017. He has won numerous awards, including Trinidad and Tobago's Chaconia Medal (Gold), the country's second-highest honour, in 2004.
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Notable tournament wins
Stephen Ames' first victory came in 1989 when he won the Trinidad and Tobago Open. Two years later, he notched his first professional title at the Pensacola Open on the Ben Hogan Tour (now the Web.com Tour). He spent five seasons on the European Tour, winning the 1994 Open V33 Grand Lyon in France and the 1996 Benson & Hedges International Open in England.
In 2004, Ames won for the first time on the PGA Tour at the Cialis Western Open, competing against many of the best professionals in the world, including Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, and Davis Love III. He went on to win one of the TOUR's marquee events in 2006, claiming The Players Championship at the TPC at Sawgrass. Playing against 48 of the top 50 golfers in the world (including Woods), Ames emerged victorious, with a record-equalling six-stroke margin.
In 2007 and 2009, Ames won the Children's Miracle Network Classic on the PGA Tour. In April 2017, he secured his first PGA Tour Champions victory at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic, finishing four strokes ahead of Bernhard Langer. In June 2021, Ames won his second PGA Tour Champions event at the Principal Charity Classic.
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Ames' personal life
Stephen Ames was born in Trinidad and Tobago and now shares citizenship with his birth country and Canada. He currently resides in Calgary, though he moved to Vancouver in 2014 after separating from his Canadian wife, with whom he has two sons. Ames is the first touring professional golfer to emerge from Trinidad and Tobago, where both his parents were born. His grandmother was a two-time golf champion in the country, and he took up the game early in life. He won a golfing scholarship to the United States and turned professional in 1987.
Ames has had a successful career, winning numerous tournaments, including the Trinidad and Tobago Open in 1989, the Pensacola Open in 1991, the Open V33 Grand Lyon in 1994, the Benson & Hedges International Open in 1996, the Cialis Western Open in 2004, and The Players Championship in 2006, where he beat 48 of the top 50 golfers in the world. Ames also won the Mitsubishi Electric Classic in 2017, his first PGA Tour Champions victory. He is the third Canadian to win on the tour and the 11th golfer to win on the three main tours run by the PGA Tour.
In addition to his golfing career, Ames owns several restaurants in Calgary, including the Vintage Chophouse and Tavern. He also co-hosts an annual charity golf tournament for kids and started the Stephen Ames Foundation in 2005 to provide funding for junior golf programs and other children's initiatives in Canada and Trinidad and Tobago. Ames was awarded the Chaconia Medal (Gold), Trinidad & Tobago's second-highest honour, in 2004, and the country's First Citizens Sports Foundation Sportsman of the Year Award in 2006 and 2007.
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Ames' legacy and impact
Stephen Ames is a professional golfer with an impressive list of accolades. He is the first touring professional golfer from Trinidad and Tobago, where his grandmother was a two-time national champion. Ames won his first professional title in 1989 at the Trinidad and Tobago Open, and went on to win the Pensacola Open on the Ben Hogan Tour (now the Web.com Tour) in 1991. He spent five seasons on the European Tour, winning the 1994 Open V33 Grand Lyon in France and the 1996 Benson & Hedges International Open in England. In 2004, Ames won his first PGA Tour title at the Cialis Western Open, and in 2006, he won The Players Championship, one of the tour's marquee events. Ames has also won the 2007 and 2009 Children's Miracle Network Classic, and in 2017, he secured his first PGA Tour Champions victory at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic. Ames has represented Trinidad and Tobago with pride and became a Canadian citizen in 2009, embracing his new country and its culture.
Ames has made a significant impact on the golfing world and has been recognised with numerous awards and honours. In 2004, he was awarded the Chaconia Medal (Gold), Trinidad and Tobago's second-highest honour. He received the Trinidad and Tobago First Citizens Sports Foundation Sportsman of the Year Award in 2006 and 2007, and the SCORE Award for Top Male Touring Professional in 2006, 2007, and 2009. Ames was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, recognising his outstanding achievements and contributions to the sport in Canada.
In addition to his golfing career, Ames has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting junior golf programs and initiatives for children. He founded the Stephen Ames Foundation in 2005 to provide funding for these programs in Canada and Trinidad and Tobago. Ames also hosts the annual Stephen Ames Cup, a Ryder Cup-style tournament that pits junior players from Canada against those from Trinidad and Tobago. This tournament fosters international competition and provides a platform for young golfers to showcase their talent.
Ames has also ventured into business endeavours, particularly in the restaurant industry. He is a part owner of several restaurants in Calgary, Alberta, including the Vintage Chophouse and Tavern. Additionally, Ames has co-hosted an annual charity golf tournament for children and is actively involved in giving back to the community.
The legacy of Stephen Ames extends beyond his golfing achievements. He has inspired and supported the next generation of golfers, contributed to the development of golf courses, and made a lasting impact on the sport in Canada and Trinidad and Tobago. His dedication to his craft, combined with his philanthropic endeavours, has solidified his place in the golfing world, leaving a lasting mark on the sport he loves.
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Frequently asked questions
Stephen Ames is a professional golfer with numerous accolades to his name. He is the first touring professional to emerge from Trinidad and Tobago, and he now shares citizenship with his birth country and Canada. Ames has won several tournaments, including the Trinidad and Tobago Open in 1989, the PGA Tour title in 2004, and the Players Championship in 2006. He also co-founded the Stephen Ames Cup, an annual tournament for junior golfers in Canada and Trinidad and Tobago. In addition, Ames owns several restaurants in Calgary, including the Vintage Chophouse. He currently resides in Calgary and is a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.
The Stephen Ames Cup is an annual Ryder Cup-style tournament founded by golfer Stephen Ames in 2005. It features junior golfers from Canada and Trinidad and Tobago, pitting the Canadian Junior Golf Association against Team Trinidad and Tobago.
Stephen Ames has numerous notable victories throughout his career. In addition to his wins at the Trinidad and Tobago Open and the PGA Tour, he has also claimed the Players Championship in 2006, defeating 48 of the top 50 golfers in the world, including Tiger Woods. Ames also won the 1994 Open V33 Grand Lyon in France and the 1996 Benson & Hedges International Open in England during his five seasons on the European Tour. He secured his first PGA Tour Champions victory in 2017 at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic and won his second PGA Tour Champions event in 2021.
Stephen Ames was a torchbearer for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.
Ames is currently developing The Copithorne Club in Alberta, a 27-hole golf course that will be the first Johnny Miller/Stephen Ames signature course in Canada. He continues to support junior golf programs and other children's initiatives through the Stephen Ames Foundation, which he founded in 2005.
