Lewis makes PGA debut at Transitions

Associated Press

PALM HARBOR, Fla.

His achievements alone would suggest Tom Lewis is racing toward stardom.

The 21-year-old from England burst onto the world scene last summer at Royal St. George’s when he ran off four straight birdies late in the opening round for a 65. It was the lowest score ever by an amateur in the British Open, and he was the first amateur in 43 years to be atop the leaderboard in golf’s oldest championship.

If that wasn’t enough, he won in his third tournament as a pro with a 65 on the last day at the Portugal Masters. Tiger Woods didn’t win until his fifth tournament. Rory McIlroy waited until his 38th start to win.

But for a kid with no other aspirations but to play golf for a living, Lewis sees himself as someone with much to learn. Another step comes this week at the Transitions Championship, where Lewis makes his PGA Tour debut, his first time playing in America as a pro.

“I know I’ve got two years in Europe. That helps,” Lewis said, referring to the two-year exemption on the European Tour for winning. “It gives me the opportunity to come here and see what standard I need to get to.”

There are so many examples of players wasting little time to get to where they want to be.

McIlroy two weeks ago rose to No. 1 in the world at 22, the second-youngest player behind Woods to be atop the world ranking. Harris English last year won a Nationwide Tour event while still an amateur. Bud Cauley became only the sixth player to go straight from college to the PGA Tour without a trip to Q-school.

The tee times for Innisbrook offer a bizarre indicator of youth: Cauley is about to turn 22, and he’ll be the oldest player in his group.

“That’s kind of funny,” Cauley said. “I never thought that would happen.”

He’ll play with Lewis and Ryo Ishikawa, the 20-year-old from Japan who is coming off a runner-up finish last week in the Puerto Rico Open. Ishikawa already has won 10 times in Japan and played on two Presidents Cup teams.

“Golf is getting so competitive at an earlier age,” Cauley said.