The Tom Lewis Story
/
Before we get to read today's first round Open Championship stories on co-leaders Tom Lewis and Thomas Bjorn, you can read up on Lewis in an excellent story by James Corrigan that ran yesterday. I found it interesting that he's already agreed to sign with IMG, yet still an amateur. What a world!
"My younger brother's name is Jack. When the draw came out on Monday I think Dad was more excited and more nervous than I was. I don't think he believed me at first. He's coming down here tomorrow and is obviously looking forward to it."
As is the player himself, although don't expect Lewis to be overawed. He spotted Watson walking up the 18th fairway yesterday and ran across to introduce himself. Did he refer to him as Mr Watson or Tom? "Tom," said Lewis. The question clearly mystified him a bit.
But then Lewis is not your average young golfer. For the past few months agents have been fighting it out for his signature, with the giants of International Management Group eventually prevailing. "I'm going to turn pro the day after the Walker Cup in September," he said. "Unless I win here." Lewis wasn't joking.
**Sean Martin posts an excellent story on Lewis as well, calling on information gleaned from an interview at the World Amateur Team Championship.
Lewis used to hit 1,000 balls per day at a night-lit driving range where his father gave lessons. Bryan Lewis would give lessons while keeping one eye on his son, who was practicing in a nearby stall. Tom would hit balls off the range’s artificial-turf mats, then help his father lock up. He’d sometimes cut school to squeeze in extra practice before big tournaments.
“Instead of going home, I went to the range and hit balls,” Lewis told Golfweek. “From there, I had a good long game. I’ve always relied on my long game to be good.”
Lewis quit school at 16 and plans to turn professional after this year’s Walker Cup.
“I didn’t really enjoy school. I was dyslexic,” Lewis said. “I was happy to leave at 16. Golf was my career. That’s what I needed to do.”
