Tom Lewis, member of the victorious GB&I Walker Cup team and winner of the 2011 Open Championship Silver Medal, announced today that he has turned professional and signed with IMG.
Tom made a huge impact at The Open Championship this year at Royal St George’s. Having qualified via Local Final Qualifying atRye, he opened with a five under par 65 to share the lead with Thomas Bjorn on the first day atSandwich. It was the lowest round by an amateur in Open Championship history and he was the first amateur to lead the Open since Michael Bonallack in 1968. He finished the Open Championship in an impressive 30th place and the winner of the coveted Silver Medal as the leading amateur.
Part of the victorious GB&I Walker Cup team last weekend, Tom has enjoyed a distinguished amateur career including wins at the 2009 Boys Amateur Championship and, more recently, at the 2011 St Andrews Links Trophy.
It is not only Tom’s golf that has attracted attention but also an engaging personality and image that has seen sponsors looking to back the young man from Welwyn Garden City as he heads to the professional ranks.
Tom has agreed deals withPing, Titleist/FootJoy, Tullow Oil and Upper Deck which will help alleviate any financial pressures as he looks to make his mark in the coming months.
Tom explained, “I am very excited to get out there and see how I measure up. The Open Championship was fantastic for me and I learnt a lot from the occasion. All the experiences gleaned from my amateur career, along with the help and support I have received from the R&A, EGU and my family and friends, will hopefully stand me in good stead as I try to earn my European Tour card for next year.
“IMG’s management credentials are second to none in the industry and I am very happy to be joining their team of players that includes many of the world’s best.”
Adrian Mitchell, whose clients include three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington and former US Open champion Michael Campbell, will manage Tom and he is relishing the task, explaining: “Tom’s talent and potential are matched by his professional approach and character as everyone witnessed during the Open Championship.
“These ingredients have made him one of the most talked about prospects in golf and, together with his already impressive portfolio of sponsors, we are looking forward to a long and exciting partnership as we work to deliver on his great potential.”
IMG Worldwide www.imgworld.com
PINGwww.ping.com
Titleist/FootJoy www.titleist.co.uk and www.footjoy.co.uk
Tullow Oil www.tullowoil.com
Upper Deck www.upperdeck.com