Despite globe-trotting on professional tours around the world for much of his career, despite claiming the erstwhile Western Open in 2004, then prevailing again with a win at the prestigious Players Championship in 2006 and this year's closing tournament at Disney, Stephen Ames might be remembered best for one specific incident.
9 and 8.
That was the score by which Ames lost to Tiger Woods in the opening round of last year's Accenture Match Play Championship. Is it fair that the world's 31st-ranked golfer is best known for one unfortunate day against the game's top player? Of course not.
After all, in addition to those three career PGA Tour victories, he has established himself as an elite ball striker who also won last year's LG Skins Game. In advance of his title defense, we put Ames on the ESPN.com Hot Seat, getting his take on that fateful day at La Costa, the FedEx Cup and why he bides his time in Calgary -- Calgary! -- in the winter months.
Complete interview