Pressure takes toll on Lewis during final tourney day
Posted on Monday, July 7, 2008
ROGERS - The crush of autograph seekers waiting outside the scoring tent Sunday afternoon was indicative of Stacy Lewis' week at the LPGA P & G beauty NW Arkansas Championship.
She was the main attraction from the moment she arrived at Pinnacle Country Club, commanding the largest galleries of any of the 143 players in the field. In addition to fan support, the former University of Arkansas star had momentum. She finished in a three-way tie for third the previous week at the U. S. Open.
Local knowledge was also in her favor, having played Pinnacle numerous times as a member of the Lady Razorback golf team. She had gone low there before. Her 65 set the standard at last year's inaugural Northwest Arkansas Championship, when, as an amateur, she shot the lowest score of the rainshortened event.
The expectation to play well weighed heavily on Lewis. The burden was relieved after she signed for a final-round of 3-over 75, putting her in a nineway tie for 49 th at 3-under par for the championship (69-69-75-213 ).
"I think I really learned this week that I just put way too much pressure on myself," Lewis said. "I wanted to play so good, being here, that I think I just tried a little too hard."
Lewis'father, Dale, said his daughter wants to play well no matter the venue. Poor performances like Sunday's 75 are unpalatable wherever they might occur.
"She puts a lot of pressure on herself pretty much every time she plays," said Lewis'father, who's served as her caddie since she turned professional last month. "Just like last week, the last day of the open, she expected to win. That's pretty much how she plays. If she doesn't play well, inside she's burning."
Lewis said the urgency to secure her tour card for 2009 added to the pressure. To avoid LPGA Qualifying School, she'll need to earn enough prize money with her five remaining sponsors exemptions to finish in the top 90 of the year-end money list.
The $ 162, 487 she won at the U. S. Open won't count toward the money list. The LPGA doesn't recognize money earned in the open by players who aren't members of the tour. The quest to gain exemption began this week with her check for $ 5, 437. It continues next week in Sylvania, Ohio, at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic.
Lewis said she'll be more comfortable playing in Ohio, where she won't be the center of attention. Her father said he's intrigued to see how the relative anonymity will affect Stacy's play.
"I'm interested to see as we play these other tournaments, because basically we'll be going places where she doesn't really know people or have the big following like she does here," he said.
Though she held the tournament record coming into the week, courses such as Pinnacle aren't the best fit for Lewis. She seems to play better at venues that defend par. Her best LPGA finishes have come in majors. Lewis tied for fifth at last year's Kraft Nabisco Championship and tied for third last week at the open.
"I think my game is more suited for hard golf courses, where you have to hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens," Lewis said. "I certainly feel like I can play here. I just have to make some putts."
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