Global Golf Post - October 17, 2011

A EuroStar Is Born

and play The Champion course he redesigned at PGA National Resort & Spa

Nov. 13-15, 2011

VILAMOURA, PORTUGAL | The whole round world of golf got its first peek at England’s Tom Lewis at the Open Championship in July when the 20-year-old phenom, playing in the company of the great Tom Watson, fired a first-round 65 at Royal St. George’s.

Sunday, at the Oceanica Victoria Golf Course, in the final round of the Portugal Masters, Lewis blazed to another memorable 65 that won him €400,000, a two-year exemption on the European Tour and the full respect and attention of everybody who has been following the game’s newest young gun.

“I wouldn’t have expected this,” said Lewis,
whose six-hole stretch of five birdies on the
back nine blew away the field. “I was really kind
of dreading tour school at the end of the year.
But it looks like I’ll skip that and I’m so pleased.
I played really well this week.”
Lewis began the day tied for eighth and four
shots back of eventual runner-up, Spaniard
Rafael Cabrera-Bello.

The winner’s 21-under-par total of 267 was two better than Cabrera-Bello and three ahead of the five players who tied for third – France’s Gregory Havret, England’s David Lynn, South Africa’s George Coetzee, Chile’s Felipe Aguilar and Sweden’s Christian Nilsson. Nilsson one-putted nine of the first 12 holes Sunday.

“I haven’t thought about the money, just the
win,” said Lewis, who turned pro shortly after
playing a role in GB&I’s Walker Cup victory over
the U.S. this summer. “I’m a long way behind
Rory (McIlroy) in the Order of Merit. I’ve got a
long way to go. But to have two years (exemp-
tion) on the European Tour, I wouldn’t have
dreamed that at the beginning of the week.”
This was only the third event for Lewis since
turning professional. He has now already moved
up to 51st in the Race To Dubai standings.