The exit. The traffic. The return
Then the return.
Tom Lewis can tell you everything that happened to him in the last few weeks at the DP World Tour Qualifying School.
It’s just that the 35-year-old Englishman think because it is so unreal, words can fail.
“Yeah, I mean, these things happen,” Lewis said, “you can’t write them off.
But let’s try. Let’s go in order:
– The exit. Across a professional career of 15 yearsLewis has seen some success. A pair of DP World Tour wins. A Korn Ferry Tour win. He had also played on a Walker Cup team, and was the little amateur at the Open Championship 2011. But this year, he played mostly on the Hotel Planner Tour, the circuit below the DP World Tour, and finished 89th in the season points race. He entered Q-School. Maybe he’ll make a run. But to the event of the second stage at the Fontanals Golf Club in Spain, he finished 23rd, and only the top 21 and ties made it to the final stage tournament.
On Sunday, November 1, Lewis left.
– The traffic. According to the DP World TourLewis got stuck in “traffic standstill”, and the Irish Golfer said what made him miss a flight. But there was a silver lining, albeit a small one. A playoff to determine the alternates of the final stage was pushed back to November 2, and Lewis could now play in it.
– The return. He didn’t just play in it; Lewis told the DP World Tour that he played the hole “like a video game,” and became the alternate eight. Still, his chances of moving on remained low.
So Lewis was in. He told the DP World Tour that as he boarded his flight back home to England, he found out he had made the final stage event, which started last Friday and ended on Wednesday at the Infinitum golf course, also in Spain.
“My manager is caddying for me this week,” Lewis told the DP World Tour, “and he said he thinks it’s probably the weirdest two hours we’ve ever had together and we’ve worked together for 10 years.”
There was more.
– The return. At the grueling six-round tournament, the final stage, Lewis was glowing. He shot rounds of 67, 68, 65, 67, 63 and 68, and finished fifth – giving him a DP World Tour card for the first time since the 2024 season.
After that, the DP World Tour asked him if he had a message for those who were following him.
“I’m really happy for them to prove that they’re right, really, because I usually suck,” he said. “This time, it’s nice to give them something to cheer up. So my phone is obviously in my pocket now.
“So, there are many people to congratulate me, and I have to go back to them tonight. And yes, it will be good to get home and spend time with my wife and celebrate with them.”
Thursday, Lewis too posted to Instagram.
He had some words for everything that had happened.
“Well well well…
“I just want to say how close things are and how quickly it changes. Do you? Maybe.
“November 2: I’m one shot away from really having a job and getting away from golf and into the shadows. A playoff, a hole, a birdie, alternating eighth for the final.
“November 11: 108 holes later, with seven missed greens and only four bogeys all week and 30 under, I’m back with the big boys. I missed it!”
“2027 will bring ups and downs, but I’m ready for the challenge. I’m coming for you with everything I have.”
“>