PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida - Stephen Ames of Trinidad and Tobago recovered from an early double-bogey to edge one shot clear in gusting winds at the Players Championship yesterday.

Ames, who three-putted from 14 feet at the par-four fourth, fired a two-under-par 70 in the third-round at the TPC at Sawgrass to finish at nine-under 207.

That left him a stroke in front of world No. 2 Vijay Singh and sixth-ranked Sergio Garcia, who carded matching 70s playing together in the day's penultimate pairing.

World No.1 Tiger Woods rattled up four birdies and five bogeys to finish at two-under 214.

Struggling

Like everyone else, the 2001 champion struggled with club selection in the gusting winds, but believes he has a chance of winning his fourth title of the year in seven starts.

"Without a doubt, but a lot depends on the course conditions tomorrow," he said.

"I need it to blow like this tomorrow and hopefully I can play a great round of golf." (Reuters)