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Lewis had several dominant performances asshe built her career earnings to $4.5 million.continue on from there, but itdidn’t happen that way for me.Every time you win, though,you learn something more.Out here you can always learnsomething and you try to getthat much better every day.”Lewis’ mighty 2012 seasonincreased her career earningsto a whopping $4.5 million.“It’s crazy to me that therehasn’t been an Americanplayer be player of the year inso many years,” she said. “Itwas really cool to be presentedthat and to get the award fromBeth Daniel in Florida, to haveher present that to me.”Daniel, the last Americanto win the Rolex Player of theYear Award, in 1994, was oneof Lewis’ idols when she wasgrowing up in the Houstonsuburb The Woodlands.Lewis gave an inkling of herpotential stardom as a collegejunior when she finished fifthin the Kraft Nabisco Championship.In the first NWAChampionship at Rogers’Pinnacle Country Club, andstill a Razorback, she was theunofficial winner when theAfter battling scoliosis early in her life, Lewis donates tothe Scoliosis Research Society, her designated charity.Lewis’ mighty 2012season increased hercareer earnings to awhopping $4.5 million.event was rained out.After turning pro she competedin the LPGA’s Tour qualifyingand was the third-placefinisher in her first professionalouting in the 2008 U.S.Women’s Open. Before turningpro, she went unbeaten infive matches in the Curtis Cupin 2008 (no player had everaccomplished the feat). Lewisfinished 3 shots ahead of thefield in the Q-School tournament,easily ensuring a spoton the Tour that most thoughtwas a certainty anyway.Her breakthrough victorycame just under three yearslater as she fended off Tseng inthe 2011 Kraft held in SouthernCalifornia. Lewis showedher toughness, getting up anddown under pressure whileputting the heat right back onTseng, who had taken over theLPGA’s dominant-player rolefrom Lorena Ochoa.It was Tseng who uncharacteristicallyfell apart in thefinal holes, and Lewis took thetraditional victory leap into thelake beside the No. 18 green,THE BIG YEARLewis In 20124 Victories3 Runner-up finishes16 Top 10 finishes$1.87 million in earnings3 Tour ranking in earnings260 Average yards per drive19 Tour rank in driving1 Tour rank in birdies(392 total)1 Tour rank in eagles (12)1 Tour rank in roundsin the 60swith her family joining in.Though she didn’t win amajor in 2012, Lewis dominatedin several performances,showcasing more power ratherrelying on just her accuracy.“My ball striking got a lotbetter,” Lewis said. “I was a lotmore solid, it wasn’t going asfar off line. From winning themajor to now and with moresolid ball-striking, my shortgame and putting has takenme to another level.”Lewis started playing atage 8 while growing up in theWoodlands and has overcomescoliosis, a curvature of thespine that could have beendebilitating, and likely careerthreatening, without surgery.Lewis, who had worn a backbrace for 7 1/2 years, had anoperation before her freshmanseason at Arkansas in which atitanium rod and five screwswere implanted in her back.In November, Lewis andBetsy King won a combined$60,000 in a charity event, thesame weekend Lewis receivedher LPGA Player of the Yearaward. Part of those winningswent to Lewis’ designatedcharity, the Scoliosis ResearchSociety. Then she donated anadditional $20,000.“I work out a lot and takecare of my back,” she said.“Knock on wood, I have noissues.”Born on Feb. 16, Lewis, 28,was inducted into the statesports Hall of Fame in earlyMarch.“My agent called me andtold me and I said, ‘Are yousure? Is it time for that?’ ”she said. “It’s an honor to beincluded in the Hall of Famewith past people and to be oneof the youngest ever.”She hopes to add plentymore to that already impressiveHall of Fame resume,starting this season.“I just want to keep doingthe same things I’ve beendoing, giving myself a chanceto win on Sundays,” she said.“I’m looking forward to makingthe Solheim Cup team,then the majors, to be incontention at the majors andto give myself chances to winon the last day.”What Lewis is most certainof is that she’s yet to play herbest golf.20 ARKANSAS BUSINESS EXECUTIVE GOLFER / 2013