Steve Lewton has described his 2024 season as ‘bittersweet’ after the experience of winning his first title on the Asian Tour in a decade was offset by a disappointing closing stretch.

The Englishman won the Mandiri Indonesia Open in August but then didn’t push on as expected. He missed four out of eight cuts, with a best finish of joint 22^nd.

“Yes, it was kind of bittersweet,” said Lewton, ahead of the Smart Infinity Philippine Open – which starts tomorrow at Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club and is the season-opening event on the Asian Tour.

“Really nice to win again but I didn’t quite get to my goals. I will have to work a bit harder to achieve them this year.”

Steve Lewton shares a joke with Chase Koepka during a practice round at Manila Southwoods. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.

He beat Australian Aaron Wilkin and China’s Sampson Zheng on the second hole of a sudden-death play-off in Indonesia. It was his second success on the Asian Tour after his victory in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in 2014.

The win was the culmination of a lot of hard work and justice after many near misses, including at the Indonesia Open, where he was second in the previous two editions.

It might have slipped under the radar for some but the 41-year-old has also won elsewhere in Asia, at the very event being played this week.

He claimed the Philippine Open in 2017 when it was played on the local tour, after prevailing in extra time against American Johannes Veerman, at a different venue from this week.

He said: “It was great to win back in 2017 because the Philippine Open is such a prestigious and old event. It’s great it’s back on Asian Tour this year. It is a privilege to be here.”

Steve Lewton. Picture by Jason Butler/Asian Tour.

Lewton is one of five former champions in the field along with Filipino Clyde Mondilla (2019), Miguel Tabuena (2015 and 2018), Angelo Que (2008) and Gerald Rosales (2000).

“Game’s rusty but had a lot of time off which has been nice. I played a few times at home, but we’ll see how this week goes. I have done a bit of swing work so we will see if it’s paid work,” he said.

“I had an amazing off season. Didn’t touch a club for a long time and then had a holiday in Barbados, which was awesome to get some downtime, with my fiancée, and kind of played a few times last week.”

After his big win last year much is expected of Lewton again this season, although he is not giving much away.

He explained: “I have set myself a few goals this year. I achieved one last year obviously and I will keep the goals to myself for now. I have set a few new goals so let’s see if we can achieve them.”