The 20 year-old said in a news release yesterday,

"I am very excited to get out there and see how I measure up."

"The 2011 Open Championship was fantastic for me and I learnt a lot from the occasion."

His rise to fame began in July at Sandwich, where his opening 5-under round was the lowest ever achieved by an amateur in the event - and his share of the lead made him the first non-professional to be at the top of the leaderboard since Michael Bonallack in 1968.

He was also on the winning team at the Walker Cup, when Great Britain and Ireland beat the United States in September in the amateur equivalent of the Ryder Cup.

"All the experiences gleaned from my amateur career ... will hopefully stand me in good stead as I try to earn my European Tour card for next year," Lewis said.

His professional debut will come next week at the Austrian Open, and he has also been invited to play at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Adrian Mitchell, who manages Padraig Harrington and Michael Campbell, will also be guiding Lewis.

"Tom's talent and potential are matched by his professional approach and character as everyone witnessed during the Open," Mitchell said.