CARNOUSTIE, Scotland, July 17 - Canada's Stephen Ames will go into the British Open with a completely remodelled swing, designed to relieve stress on a back injury that has plagued him for more than nine months.

"I've been trying to better my swing but more importantly a swing that won't hurt my body as much as the old one did," Ames told Reuters on Tuesday.

"I was putting far too much strain on my back. The changes have got better and better each week."

The Trinidad-born player's career took off last year when he claimed the Players Championship title at Sawgrass.

But towards the end of the season Ames was crippled by joint problems in his back and was bitterly disappointed to have to withdraw from the Canadian Open in September.

He also had to pull out during the WGC-American Express Championship and was unable to start the end-of-season Tour Championship.

Ames, 43, hopes he has found a swing, working with Toronto coach Sean Foley, which will end his back problems and give him a chance at Carnoustie this week.

"It's a work in progress but I'm very optimistic," said Ames who became a Canadian citizen several years ago, the nationality of his wife Jodi, who used to caddie for him.

"For instance I've had six days in a row playing golf without pain, not even discomfort, and I've not been able to do that for a while."

Ames's optimism stretches to his chances this week in a major where his best result was tied fifth in 1997 at Troon.

"I didn't play in 1999 (at Carnoustie), thank God. I think this year the course is very fair and they've done a wonderful job setting it up," he said.

"Unfortunately it's a bit wet but they've had the most rain here for 107 years so that's to be expected. I feel the course is set up for my new swing though."