Tom Lewis (left), playing with U.S. legend Tom Watson, after whom he was named, is tied for the lead with Thomas Bjorn after yesterday’s first round of the British Open.
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SANDWICH, England — Golf fans of America, allow us to introduce Tom Lewis.
Never heard of him?
Don’t worry, you’ll be hearing a lot about him in the coming days, months and years.
Lewis is the 20-year-old English amateur who, in stunning fashion, catapulted himself into a share of the first-round British Open lead with a 5-under-par 65 yesterday at Royal St. George’s. In one round, he looked like he was ready to supplant Rory McIlroy as the next big thing in golf — and the 22-year-old McIlroy is barely shaving.
Lewis’ story is so storybook that when you hear the details you think you’re being Punk’d.
Lewis was named after Tom Watson by his father, Brian, a former European Tour pro and current teacher at a driving range in England who idolized the American golfer and five-time winner of the British Open.
Lewis, who happens to be paired with Watson here for the first two rounds, comes from the same hometown as Nick Faldo, Welwyn, England, and played at the same golf club as Faldo.
He has a younger brother, Jack, who was named after — you guessed it — Jack Nicklaus. Even his younger sister, Stacey, was named after a British model his father had a crush on.
Lewis shares the Open lead with Thomas Bjorn and has a one shot lead over Lucas Glover, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Webb Simpson. He’s the first amateur since 1968 to lead the Open after any round.
“Tom Lewis, how about that?” the 61-year-old Watson marveled minutes after his round. “He could be my grandson. I just had to smile inside watching him play.”
Lewis said once he learned of his dream pairing, he made it a point to meet Watson before they played.
“I thought it was good to introduce myself before the first tee on Thursday because I think I would have been more nervous than I already was,” he said. “He was just a really nice guy, put his arm around me and asked me how old I was. I couldn’t really have asked for a better draw.”
Lewis began to grab attention around the golf course when he made the turn at 3-under. But bogeys on Nos. 11 and 13 dropped him to 1-under and an inexperienced youngster could have continued to go south from there.
Instead, Lewis electrified the crowds by carding four consecutive birdies on Nos. 14 though 17 to tie for the lead.
“On the first tee, to play with Tom, no matter what I shot was going to be excellent,” Lewis said. “I was more not wanting to embarrass myself in front of him. I was just thrilled to be here, but to shoot 65 the first round was something I wouldn’t have thought. I was just happy to get the drive off the tee on the first. That was all that mattered.”
Can he continue the magic carpet ride through four rounds? Nobody knows, but this kid seems legitimate, and he has some history at Royal St. George’s, having won the Boys Amateur Championship here in 2009. He, too, won the St. Andrews Links Trophy last month.
Lewis, despite still playing as an amateur, has some pro tournament experience, too. He lost in a playoff to Peter O’Malley in last year’s New South Wales Open in Australia and he finished 12th in the Australian Open.
So, this isn’t his first rodeo, though it is the largest of his life to date.
Lewis was followed around the golf course by mother, Lynda, and more than 30 other friends and family, but not by his father, who gets too nervous to watch him play live.
Much like McIlroy does so often, Lewis, who left school at age 16 to concentrate on golf full time, praised his parents for their sacrifices to allow him to develop and play world-wide tournaments.
“My parents sacrificed a lot for me to be here,” he said. “Without them, I wouldn’t have had the opportunities I had. Hopefully, their sacrifices will pay off long-term. I’ve got a long way in my career and hopefully I can produce good golf.”
After a pause, Lewis then unwittingly drew laughter from the packed interview room when he added innocently and with a straight face: “If not, then they’re still poor.”
