England’s Lewis lands his first title in only his third professional start

ENGLAND’S Tom Lewis confirmed his superstar potential yesterday when he produced a stunning finish to win the Portugal Masters on only his third start as a professional.

Three months after firing the lowest-ever round by an amateur in the Open, the 20-year-old had another 65 as he took the £375,166 first prize by two strokes from Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello.

Tiger Woods needed five tournaments to land his first professional title, while Rory McIlroy did not taste success until his 38th European Tour event. “I’ve not thought about the money – I was thinking about winning,” said the new champion, who had 22 birdies and only one bogey in the last 52 holes.

Lewis, whose grandmother, Elizabeth, hails from Wishaw, was in seventh spot with seven holes to go at Oceanico Victoria. But he two-putted the long 12th and then had four birdies in a row from the 14th.

Suddenly, with previous joint leaders Peter Hanson, Christian Nilsson, Felipe Aguilar and Cabrera-Bello all finding water entering the closing stretch, Lewis was three clear.

He kept his nerve to par the final hole and had to wait nearly an hour before a victory that changes his life was confirmed.

Instead of facing a trip to the Tour school in December – he entered the week 234th on the Tour money list and 621st in the world – he is exempt for two seasons and already a rich young man.

“I would not have expected this at all,” he added. “I was dreading going to the qualifying school at the end of the year.”

Instead he will be making a World Championship debut in China next month and leaps to third place on the Ryder Cup points table.

Lewis, shocked to have won so early in his career, stated: “I’m a long way behind Rory and have a long way to go. To have two years on the European Tour, I would not have dreamt that at the beginning of the week, so I’m really pleased.”

Amazingly, Lewis was five strokes outside the halfway cut mark when he bogeyed the opening two holes of his second round on Friday. But he turned that into a 64, was four behind Cabrera-Bello with 18 holes to go and seized his chance as those ahead of him made mistakes. After pitching to six feet on the 14th, he drove the green at the 315-yard 15th and two-putted for another birdie. He made a 25-footer from the fringe at the short 16th and two-putted the par-5 17th. “I was just happy shooting in the sixties no matter where I finished. If you had said I would finish 21 under I would have said ‘No way’.”

Lewis shot to fame with his opening 65 at Sandwich and was then part of the victorious Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team at Royal Aberdeen before joining the professional ranks, producing a top-10 finish in his first event in Austria.

Lewis was also going well in the opening round of the Dunhill Links Championship until he stumbled at his closing hole at Kingsbarns. He eventually finished last of the 70 qualifiers in the pro-am event but, two weeks later, has bounced back in spectacular fashion.

Second place went to Spain’s Cabrera-Bello who had hooked into the lake off the 12th tee and ran up a double bogey seven as well as dropping another stroke two holes later. He hit back with a hat-trick of birdies from the 15th and just missed his eagle attempt on the 17th meaning he had to hole his approach to the last to force a play-off. When he failed to do that Lewis knew he had won.

Joint third with Nilsson and Aguilar were England’s David Lynn, France’s Gregory Havret - both with 64s - and South African George Coetzee.

As a mark of respect for Adam Hunter, who lost his battle against leukaemia on Friday night, competitors were given the chance to wear a black ribbon in the final round in his memory.

Despite the pain of losing his coach and close friend, Paul Lawrie battled bravely to finish as the leading Scot.

The Aberdonian closed with a 68 to finish in a tie for 11th on 272, three ahead of Steven O’Hara (67) and four in front of Peter Whiteford (71).

Marc Warren had a closing 68 for 277, beating Colin Montgomerie (68) by one while Alastair Forsyth (72) finished on 280 and David Drysdale (71) on 283. Paying tribute to Hunter, European Tour chief executive George O’Grady said: “It is desperately sad to lose, at such a young age, a great European Tour member and champion as well as an inspirational coach. We will remember the exceptional and brave example that Adam set to us all.”