Lewis returns to amateur ranks with knowledge that there's work ahead

British Open star Tom Lewis returns to golf's amateur ranks this week knowing he has plenty of work to do before he can consistently compete with the professionals.

The silver medal for being the leading amateur at Royal St. George's should be reward enough for the 20-year-old from Welwyn Garden City. But having been catapulted into the headlines after having a share of the lead on the first day, he must now readjust to life in less glamorous surrounds.

Lewis had planned to play in this week's Nordea Masters on the European Tour in Stockholm, but has been called up to Scotland for a training session with a number of Walker Cup hopefuls.

It will be something of a comedown after a week when he played two rounds with five-time British Open champion Tom Watson, then 18 holes with four-time major winner Phil Mickelson, and became the first amateur to lead the British Open since Michael Bonallack in 1968 at Carnoustie.

"I don't think I'll be turning pro. I think I've got things to learn, as I've just lost by about 20 shots this week," said Lewis, who eventually finished 9 over in a share of 30th. "I feel like I'm ready in certain areas, but playing with Phil on Saturday made me feel terrible around the greens. If you're going to play with the best players in the world, you have to chip and putt like they do.

"But it's excellent to watch the way he plays, winning as many majors as he has and being one of the best players in the world,” he added. "I'm glad I played with him because I realized that I'm pretty bad around the greens and I need to work on that a lot. That's the difference between me and the top boys at this moment in time."

Lewis insists he will be able to cope without all the attention he has received over the last few days.

"It will be a bit different going from this to there, which is obviously the bit I'm going to have to think about," he said. "I had a great week with the crowds everywhere, that's just an amazing feeling. I loved this week and I won't forget the first day and what I did but I still have to work on what I'm weak at and that is mentally as well as my short game.

"I'm going back to play an amateur where no one really watches, and it is going to be a little bit of a downfall, but you still have to win the events and that's all that really matters,” he explained. "I don't need a psychologist to tell me how to think, I just need to play better golf and hit better shots and that will make me feel better."