www.globalgolfpost.com
JULY 30, 2012
Foley’s Full Plate Leaves Ames On The Outs
ROBERT THOMPSON
E-MAIL ROBERT
ANCASTER, ONTARIO | Before Tiger
Woods, Justin Rose and Hunter Mahan
were his star pupils, Sean Foley spent
time tweaking the swing of Canadian
Stephen Ames. It was Ames who made
the outspoken swing coach’s reputation
after plucking him from obscurity in 2006.
But Ames, once regarded as one of the
best ball-strikers on the PGA Tour, has
slumped, and after missing the cut at the
British Open, the golfer said it might be
time to clean house. That means firing
his caddie, his trainer, and parting ways
with Foley, whom Ames said can’t fit him
into his increasingly busy schedule.
It could just be Stephen being Stephen. Ames is one of the game’s most
outspoken players, who wears his heart –
and his frustrations – on his sleeve. This
is just the latest example of the former
Players Championship winner expressing
his emotions in a very frank, public way.
“(Foley is) on a different schedule
now,” Ames said last week at the RBC
Canadian Open. “Before he would be on
Tour with me.”
Ames admits he is partially to blame
for not seeing his swing coach, whom he
started working with after winning the
2006 Players Championship. At that time
Ames was struggling with a balky back
and unable to solve his physical woes. He
turned to Foley, then an unknown coach
working outside of Toronto with some
aspiring junior golfers.
Foley had PGA Tour dreams, and big-
swing theories, but no credibility. Ames’
success – he won in 2007 – gave Foley
access to the driving ranges of the PGA
Tour. And no one works a driving range
like Foley, endlessly acknowledging those
around him and interacting with players
and caddies.
Sean Foley (center) has spent more time with clients such as Hunter Mahan (right), leaving Stephen Ames (left) feeling a little left out.
have him understand and not need me as
much. That’s my goal with every player.”
As our interview winds down, 21-year
old Seung-Yul Noh wanders by. Foley
asks the golfer if he is practicing “the
right way.
“The way we talked about,” Foley says,
as Noh smiles and wanders towards the
range. One more in the stable?
Foley nods.
“This kid is the real deal,” Foley says
enthusiastically. “He has a swing speed
of 125. His skill set is insane – he’s that
good. I found time for him.”
Making time will be increasingly
difficult for Foley as the success of his
students rise. There will surely be more
Ames-like issues cropping up. But when
you think about it, becoming too success-
ful is a nice problem to have. l
