Stacy Lewis has a plan to contend late in her career, and it’s not by hitting the ball farther

A lot has changed for Stacy Lewis over the past couple of years. First, she became a mom. And recently Lewis and her husband bought a new house, which they’ll close on in a couple of weeks.

What hasn’t changed? Her will to win.

“My mom asked last week, she’s like, ‘Who is older than you on Tour?'” Lewis said on Wednesday, speaking to the media at the Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic. “We could only come up with a handful players.”

At age 36, Lewis has two top 10s and finished between 20th and 33rd five other times this season. She’s made 11 starts this year and only in her last one, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, did she miss the cut. And yes, she was not pleased.

Fitness

“I was talking to my husband on Friday night, and I think he thought I needed like a pep talk,” Lewis said. “And I’m like, ‘No, I’m mad. I don’t need a pep talk.’ I was back out there on Saturday working on it. That’s just who I am. I’m not going to quit or feel bad for myself because I miss a cut. That’s when you got to go back to work and figure out what you did wrong and try not to do it again.”

Lewis was asked how difficult it is to contend on the LPGA Tour while getting older. Nelly Korda, at 22, just won her first major last week. She ranks 10th in driving distance at 273.55 yards per, while Lewis ranks 129th at 247.63 yards. But Lewis knows that’s not going to change anytime soon.

“It’s hard; these girls are so good,” she said. “They’re so good so young and hit it so far. I think that is the biggest thing right now, just the distance part. I’m not going to magically make a swing change and hit it 30 yards further. That’s just not going to happen. For me right now I’m trying to get my short game and wedges and putter as good as it can be. If that’s on, I can contend, be in contention, and play smarter than everybody else, too. But it’s really hard. These girls are so good. But it’s great. Our Tour is in a great spot, and it’s nice to watch Nelly. What she did last week to that golf course was unbelievable.”

Lewis’ week in Texas is already off to a good start. She shot a three-under 68 on Thursday and is in the mix with an afternoon tee time coming up on Friday.