FORT MYERS, Fla. | When she signed her card on Friday, she had tied the low round of the day and walked into the clubhouse at Crown Colony Golf & Country Club for lunch with the morning lead. There were no illusions. Stacy Lewis knew it wouldn’t last. She has been out here long enough to read a leaderboard. Leona Maguire had a lot of birdie holes to play and Marina Alex is hitting it as good as ever. But Lewis also knew that she wouldn’t be far behind at sundown. At this stage of her career, that’s all she wants going into a final round.
“Seeing your name on a leaderboard, being in those last couple groups, I told my caddie last week, ‘Wow, it has been a while since we've been in those last few groups,’” Lewis said after shooting 5-under par 67 on Friday to get to 9-under par and within shouting distance of the leaders. “It's where you want to be. You want to give yourself a chance to win on Sunday, Saturday this week. That has been my goal from day one, giving myself opportunities to win.
“I’m just really, really happy with the week so far. Looking forward to one more day.”
Lewis is a lot calmer than she has ever been in her career. There’s a maturity and commanding presence that you can see in her eyes, hear in her voice, and sense from her carriage. On the course, she still works hard. But she is also more at peace with her place on the planet.
She finished tied for eighth last week at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio and enjoyed a solid week at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. She’s leading the field among players making their third start of 2022.
When asked how she keeps her energy up after three starts this early in the year, Lewis said, “I don't know. I mean, we fight to get through every day at our house with a three-year-old.” She was referring to her daughter, Chesnee, who has added a new dimension to Lewis’ life and a new reason to continue to grind.
“Joe (Hallett, her coach) and I went to work in December. I just wanted to start hitting the golf ball better. Really the last three years, even before I had Chesnee, I probably wasn't hitting it very good. And I really just wanted to get the golf swing in a better spot, and so that is why I really didn't take much time off. That’s showing. I’m getting the body turning and moving better. And I’m just happy with the results.”
Lewis won the 2020 Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open. But she and Hallett have always wanted to get the clubface a little more open on the backswing so that she can rotate her chest through impact without fear of a left miss. It’s the same thing Ben Hogan did 70 years ago, and the move players have been trying to perfect ever since.
A less patient Lewis might not have been as receptive to the changes Hallett recommended.
Now, a mom, a college coach’s wife, and a mentor to many on the LPGA Tour, Lewis is ready for a third act as a LPGA Tour contender.
“Makes dinner taste a little better,” she said with a smile after her round. “Just makes this afternoon a lot better.”
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