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Lewis did not see transformation coming after first round
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Lewis did not see transformation coming after first round

Tom Lewis admits he did not foresee the remarkable weekend turnaround which saw him finish in a tie for second at the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational when he opened up with a 73 on Thursday.

Tom Lewis

The Englishman was 14 shots off the lead at the halfway stage after following up his first round with a level par 70 on Friday.

But because there was no cut at TPC Southwind this week, Lewis had the chance to play his way back into contention and he did just that with a course record equalling 61 on Saturday.

He kept that momentum going on Sunday as he made four birdies in a row from the third before rolling in from 30 feet on the ninth green to turn in 30.

Lewis' stellar front nine display had catapulted him towards the top end of the leaderboard and although he dropped a shot at the 13th, he bounced back with a 15 foot birdie at the 15th to grab a share of the lead.

He had a brilliant chance to move to 12 under at the 16th but narrowly missed his birdie putt from around six feet.

The two time European Tour winner's challenge faltered when he made a bogey on the 17th and he went on to finish three strokes behind eventual champion Justin Thomas in a share of second place alongside Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Daniel Berger.

But Lewis enjoyed himself on Sunday and, speaking after his round, he said: "When you make some birdies out there, every hole feels birdieable. After the first round, I didn't see the scores the guys were shooting. It's amazing what the mind can do. 

"I went out there, I was pretty free most of the day. Obviously I felt tension on the last few holes - you're trying to win - and probably got out of my process a little bit. 

"But it was good fun. After that first day I never would have thought I would be standing here now.

"I feel comfortable, my swing feels free, the putting's getting better, it's getting freer. 

"The simpler I keep it, the better I perform and that's just what I've got to do next week."

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