In 2020, the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open was only the third event after the LPGA Tour’s restart due to COVID-19. Stacy Lewis, coming off a T9 performance in her hometown of Toledo, Ohio at the Marathon LPGA Classic, was ready for the links in just her second appearance at the TGWSO. Four days later, Lewis made it into a playoff against Emily Pedersen, Cheyenne Knight and Azahara Munoz. A few minutes after that, Lewis walked away with the 13th trophy of her LPGA Tour career.
“I remember I came off Toledo last year, played really well there and finished really good on Sunday, and just came over (to Scotland) with a lot of confidence. The golf course played really hard last year. A lot of wind every day. It just played to my strengths, I feel like,” said Lewis. “You know, as the week went on, I felt like little things were starting to go my way. I was getting good bounces and didn't really hole a lot of putts at all in the entire week. But things start going your way and you start getting good bounces and, you know, kind of felt lucky to be in the playoff and finally make a putt.”
That putt? A 23-foot birdie putt that secured Lewis her first win as an #LPGAMom. In the moment, Lewis said she couldn’t watch the final putts from the playoff but was overjoyed once the dust settled. She remembers the reaction most from the other moms on the LPGA Tour after winning in Scotland.
“When I went back and kind of the response to it and some of the other girls that have kids, just how cool they thought it was and how proud they were of me. They know how hard it is and how hard it is to come back and to continue to play with all the extra demands that go on into life now. So, it was really cool,” said Lewis. “You know, Chesnee (her daughter) still doesn't really understand exactly what I do, but she will one day.”
Upon arrival home, Lewis’ husband surprised her with a banner complimenting her win outside their Texas home. She said she became a fan favorite among her neighbors. Now as she looks to successfully defend a championship for the first time in her career, Lewis takes on Dumbarnie Links after a string of solid finishes in her last three events: a tie for 12th (Volunteers of America Classic), a tie for ninth (Marathon LPGA Classic) and another tie for 12th alongside playing partner Maria Fassi at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational. Lewis said she enjoys the creativity needed for links golf, and after her first looks at the tournament’s new host site, she’s impressed.
“It's amazing. I'd say anybody that's coming over for a trip, you need to come play here. It's a newer design obviously but it still has the old links feel to it. It's a pretty good hike. It's a pretty good walk. But other than that, you know, you hit a lot of different shot and you've got to hit some long ones and short one, as well,” said Lewis. “There's some really good short holes on this golf course. We haven't had much wind the last couple days but it's coming. Looking forward to see how it's going to play in that.”
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