Open title just another obstacle for Lewis to hurdle
By Steve Elling | CBSSports.com Senior Writer Follow SteveEDINA, Minn. -- It was the most nervous moment in Stacy Lewis' life.
Well, to this point, anyway.
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| Stacy Lewis is lining up an historic victory. (AP) |
Hey, routine.
"I was just trying to make people laugh," she said. "Ease the tension some."
There will be none of the former and plenty of the latter as Lewis tries to make history on Sunday by becoming the first player ever to win the U.S. Women's Open in her first professional start.
Lewis, a four-time All-American from Arkansas who owns a stellar college resume that includes the 2007 NCAA individual title, became the first player ever to finish with a 5-0 mark at the Curtis matches, then turned pro before she played in her Open sectional qualifier June 9.
Lewis, 23, shot a nearly flawless 6-under 67 and will play in the final group Sunday alongside fellow Yankee Paula Creamer, with whom she last played in a junior event five or six years ago in Alabama. Creamer, 21, vaguely recalls the tournament, but not much about Lewis, who leads her by a stroke at 9 under.
"That was a long time ago," Creamer said.
It was another lifetime for Lewis, given that her golf dreams were very much in doubt a few months later after she underwent major back surgery to rectify a scoliosis problem that had first been diagnosed at age 11.
After wearing a plastic back brace 18 hours per day for 7 1/2 years as an adolescent, her back still hadn't sufficiently straightened. Five years ago this month, a few days after finishing high school, Lewis had a six-inch titanium rod affixed to her spine, held in place by screws and pieces of a rib that was cut into pieces and used as a sort of gasket between the affected vertebra.
Doctors advised beforehand that paralysis was part of the surgical risk.
"Absolutely when I found out I was going to have surgery, I thought I was done playing golf forever," she said.
The time required for recovery seemed like forever and a day for an active kid that age. For nine months, she didn't hit a full shot, since she was restricted from bending or twisting of any kind. She was ordered not to lift anything heavier than five pounds. Finally, she began to play again -- and now she's 18 holes from hoisting the most sought-after trophy in golf.
To her credit, her coach at Arkansas at the time, Kelley Hester, agreed to honor Lewis' college letter of intent, which was signed seven months before the surgery. It proved downright providential.
Hungrier than ever after having the game taken away from her, Lewis redshirted as a freshman then won the team qualifier by a staggering 20 strokes the following season to earn the No. 1 spot. She emerged with a stiffer resolve than that darned titanium rod.
"So that was a pretty good indication (I was OK), I guess," she said, drawing waves of laughs.
By the time she was finished with her college career, she had won 12 titles, not including an asterisk-affixed LPGA tournament she claimed nine months ago. The Northwest Arkansas Championship was cancelled after 18 holes thanks to a Biblical downpour, after Lewis shot a 7-under 65 to take the first-round lead. Still an amateur, she received nothing but a trophy and the win was rendered unofficial since it didn't last the required minimum of 36 holes.
"It's basically an unofficial tournament that didn't happen," she said. "But that really showed me I could play at that level. I beat 143 of the best players in the world for one day, and there's nothing wrong with that."
She's at it again, whipping 155 of them this time around, through 54 holes at the most brutal examination in women's golf. With her father Dale as caddie, Stacy has been trying to keep the mood light by smiling and laughing whenever possible. When you make six birdies in the third round, that's easy to accomplish. Which isn't to remotely suggest that Lewis isn't aware of the stakes or is taking the affair lightly.
Having turned pro seemingly hours earlier, she has no status on the LPGA circuit, and a win would lock up her card for 2009 and beyond. Moreover, the Open represents the biggest purse and prize in the women's game.
"She knows it's big, and I don't know why, but she seems to play her best in a nervous environment," said Dale Lewis, 51.
Lewis, a 5 handicapper, shaves his head, probably because his hair started falling out a few years ago, shortly after he began taking his daughter to the course at age 8. By age 13, she was beating him.
"I was a little upset, actually," he laughed. "Then I got used to it. Then she went off to college and she began beating me from the same tees."
Lewis, who earned two degrees in her five years at Arkansas, is clearly good enough to win, having slain the best amateurs from around the world for the past four years. Not intimidated by the professionals around her -- though Creamer is two years her junior, she's been an LPGA pro for four seasons -- Lewis said she had one primary objective for the week.
So far, so great.
"I've accomplished my goal for the week," Lewis said. "It was just to put myself in contention and whatever happens tomorrow, it happens.
"I want to win more than, probably, more than anybody here."
