Lewis was diagnosed with scoliosis as a kid and wore a back brace 18 hours a day for seven years to correct the curvature of her spine — taking the brace off long enough to practice golf. When it didn't heal properly, she had surgery after finishing high school to install a steel rod and five screws in her vertebrae. That didn't stop her from playing at Arkansas, from winning an NCAA title, from winning an LPGA major, and now winning LPGA player of the year.

"This was not even on my mind," Lewis said. "I was trying to win a couple of tournaments and be the top American. Everything else has been a bonus."