Q/A with Stacy Lewis

by Iver Maple on April 3, 2011

Q: What was it like competing against Michelle Wie in Q-School?

A: There was a lot of pressure and coverage. There were even bleachers and stands, for LPGA Q-School! To have all that attention was fun, but truthfully it was great to have it over with and get on to the tour.

Q: What was it like leading the field in your first US Open?

A: The US Open was surreal. I played okay the first two days, and then all of a sudden my putter catches fire and I'm leading. It happened so fast! Each day, after I finished playing I would go through my warm-down practice routine. But after my third round 67 I did a bunch of interviews and just wanted to get out of there. I didn't do what I'd been doing to get into that position. It wasn't clear at the time that it had an big effect, but looking back I feel that it did. I wish I'd just hit a few and calmed down a little bit.

Q: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career?

A: Three years after I started playing, I found out that I had scoliosis. Over the next seven years, I wore a corrective body brace for 18 hours a day. The only time I was allowed out of it was to play golf! Maybe that’s why I love it so much—it was a relief. When I was 18, I had a spinal fusion operation and was told that I might never play again. There is now a rod and five screws in my back. And when my doctor found out that I played golf competitively, he conducted the surgery a little differently so that I could retain more rotation in my swing. The recovery was the worst pain I’ve ever imagined, but going through that ordeal made me tougher mentally. It gave me a new appreciation of what I’m able to do. It didn’t matter how I played, I was just excited to be out there at all, and that made me a better player.

Q: How did you select Mizuno?

A: I just have found that they set up well to my eye. They’re consistent, and I love their fit and feel. Mizuno’s drivers just look better to me than most—and I can really control my shots with them. Many pros go straight for a blade, but if I can hit the same types of shots with a cavity back, I’ll go for that every time. And with my Mizunos, I can still shape the ball just fine.