Inland Waterways » is big day? "Hell no. Its 50

Happy birthday to Stephen Ames. And this is not just any birthday. Today, the Calgarian turns the big Five-Oh. So is the four-time winner on the PGA Tour happy about his big day? "Hell no. Its 50! Who wants to get there?" Ames chuckled in mock protest. "Actually, Im OK with it - its just a number." But its a big number, one that makes him eligible for the Champions Tour, that career mulligan circuit for the older set. He will make his official debut as an Old Guy on May 22 at the Senior PGA Championship, one of that tours five majors. "I look at it as being fortunate," Ames said, "because I have another place to play. Someone referred to it the other day as the back nine of my career. For me, it means I have 15 more years of golf and having fun with it and not having to worry about a job or a pay cheque coming in. Im pretty much set - its nice." Ames is ready to compete on the Champions Tour and thinks he can play well. Compared to many of the older guys, hes in great shape. His back problems that troubled him years ago havent been an issue for some time and in preparation for his move to the 50-and-over tour, hes lost 11 pounds. "Ive been working out hard," he said, "doing some hard cardio. Its not about weights for me, its cardio and all of a sudden the weight started dropping off. I was a size 35 pant and now Im slipping into 32s." Ames, who is being inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame later this year, has also been working hard on his game, adding some distance to his drives and concentrating on his scoring clubs. Those will come in handy on a tour where the courses are 7,000 yards as opposed to the 7,500 hes been playing. "I expect to play well," he stated. "The only difference is that instead of hitting 3-irons into greens, Ill be hitting 9-irons." After years of working with Sean Foley, Ames parted ways with the guy he brought to the PGA Tour last year. The two remain friendly but Ames found it hard to get time on Foleys busy schedule. So hes been seeing Calgary swing coach Paul Horton, and is happy with the new relationship. "The changes Im making, Im understanding them and Im starting to hit it further, which is a bit scary," he said. "The hard thing were struggling with right now is keeping it on the golf course. Thats just because Im not quite secure with it yet. But overall, Im definitely seeing the difference. Im not as short as the numbers are saying right now." In addition to less mileage on the scorecard, Ames is also looking forward to the more relaxed atmosphere on the Champions Tour, which he says will fit his personality. Its definitely a fan-friendly circuit and the out-going Ames believes hell enjoy that part of it, something thats been missing from the current PGA Tour. "Im going to get to be me a little more," he said. "The guys out here [on the PGA Tour] as so serious and stern-faced and there are no smiles... Im still enjoying it out here but its tougher and so thats why Im really looking forward to the Champions Tour." Ames will spend this year going back and forth between the two tours, playing 20 on the PGA Tour and filling in the rest of the season on the Champions Tour. For the first time in his career, hell also get a home game, teeing it up in the Shaw Charity Classic, the stop in Calgary. Sleeping in his own bed while playing a tournament is something hes never done, but hes looking forward to helping the tournament become even more successful than its maiden run last year. As he did on the PGA Tour, Ames will take to the Champions Tour in his own way. On the course, he should be a contender with that silky smooth swing of his. Off it, he will be the same guy too -- he never worries much about what others think and hes not afraid to say whats on his mind. Thats refreshing. Stephen Ames leads a stress-free life and thats a good way to be. Cheap Rays Jerseys Authentic . 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The turf is scheduled to give way to actual grass that is bright green, so we dont have to complain any more—we just have to wait a few years. Instead, do feel free to complain if the roof is closed for any reason other than to allow a game to be played.LONDON - Equality came to the self-proclaimed Home of Football on Sunday.More than seven years after the new Wembley opened, the England womens team was finally allowed to follow its male counterpart by playing in the $1.2 billion national stadium.Though it ended with a 3-0 defeat by European champion Germany, the match was a validation of the steady growth that womens football has enjoyed in England, particularly since the 2012 Olympics.History makers, proclaimed the cover of the matchday program for the 45,000 fans who defied torrential rain and transport issues — 5,000 more than the crowd that watched the England mens team play Norway in a September friendly.The Football Associations marketing machine achieved its mission, with a record womens crowd for an England game. The previous mark was just over 29,000 for a European Championship match against Finland at Manchester Citys Etihad stadium in 2005.However, the team coached by Mark Sampson fell short on Sunday as Germany mercilessly exposed Englands defensive deficiencies.England defender Alex Scott scored an own goal after six minutes, and striker Celia Sasic netted twice to show just why the second-ranked Germans could win a third World Cup next year.They are the benchmark everyone is aspiring to be, theyve had years and years of winning ... and were trying to reach them, England striker Eniola Aluko said.The purpose of friendlies is to understand what its all about to play in front of a big crowd with the pressure.Aluko is used to playing in front of just a few hundred fans. The womens Super League, where she plays for Chelsea, saw crowds grow by 30 per cent in the 2014 season but only to an average of 728. The highest attendance was 1,292 last month for Liverpools title-clinching game against Chelsea.Demand for tickets at Wembley, though, exceeded the 55,000 allowed to be sold in the 90,000-seat venue where the capacity was capped due to London Underground engineering work. The 10,000 no-shows were likely because of the pooor weather and Tube turmoil.ddddddddddddBut with the game on free television — unlike Sundays Premier League games — this still felt like a successful launchpad to grow the womens game in England ahead of the World Cup in Canada.Its amazing the English association had a lot of people in the stadium, Germany defender Annike Krahn said. Even for the home of soccer it is not easy.In selecting an opponent for this landmark occasion, England sought an illustrious side rather than setting up a crowd-pleasing walkover. So the result was hardly a surprise: England had failed to win all 19 previous encounters with Germany.And if Englands women sought an equal billing with the men they got it when boos rang out around the stadium with each goal.The Germans are the best in the world and theyre going to punish you with clinical counter-attacks and clinical finishing, Sampson said. But weve taken so much from the game today and were in such a better place now than we were.One key difference between Sundays game and next years World Cup is the playing surface. The poor state of the Wembley grass — the result of three recent NFL games — perhaps vindicated FIFAs decision to play the games in Canada on artificial turf.If I could choose it I would never play on (artificial) turf but it wont be my decision, Krahn said. Football has to play on natural grass.But England seems content playing on plastic, rather than joining the legal action being pursued their American counterparts, who claim that not playing on grass is sexism.Playing on artificial turf might suit our style of play, Aluko said. There are technical differences, the ball bounces differently and runs smoother but you have to adapt to that and make sure youre ready.How ready England is to take on the worlds best next year remains unclear. But Wembley showed there is an appetite for further womens games, ensuring the national football stadium isnt just for mens teams.___Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '