Professional Career
Following the Curtis Cup victory, Lewis turned professional, prior to competing in sectional qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open. She won medalist honors in the Garland, Texas, sectional on June 9 to qualify for her first tournament as a professional. Lewis was tied for ninth after 36 holes and shot a 67 (–6) in the third round to lead the field, but a final round 78 (+5) left her tied for third, five strokes behind winner Inbee Park. She competed in seven events on the LPGA tour in 2008, with two top-10 finishes and earned over $247,000.
Before 2009, Lewis was not a member of the LPGA Tour or any other professional golf tour. She was eligible to play in the U.S. Women's Open after successfully competing in the sanctioned qualifying process. She then tried to earn her LPGA Tour card in 2008 through the use of sponsor's exemptions, but was not successful.
As a result, she went to sectional qualifying in September in California and advanced to the final stage of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament in Florida in December, an event which garnered considerably more press coverage than normal, due to the presence of Michelle Wie. Lewis finished as the medalist for the five-round event, three shots ahead of the field and six in front of Wie, who finished in a tie for 7th place.
Lewis's first official professional victory came at the 2011 Kraft Nabisco Championship, a major, where she led the field for the first two rounds, and then held off current world number 1 and defending champion Yani Tseng to win by three strokes.
Lewis made her Solheim Cup debut in 2011, qualifying second for the U.S. team behind Cristie Kerr.
Lewis's endorsement deals include Mizuno Corp. golf clubs and Fila Golf apparel. She signed a sponsorship deal with KPMG in 2012.
In the 2012 season, Lewis won four tournaments, and became the first American player to win the LPGA Player of the Year award since Beth Daniel in 1994.
On March 17, 2013, by virtue of her win at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup in Arizona, Stacy Lewis unseated Yani Tseng to become the #1 ranked women's golfer in the world. The victory was her second of the season. Inbee Park overtook the number one position four weeks later, on April 15, 2013.
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