The Pink Panther Creeps into a Major Title Win
Paula Creamer, an American pro golfer best known as the Pink Panther for dressing all in pink on the course, is the recent winner of the LPGA Women’s US Open. The 23-year-old golfer became an instant star soon after she completed high school when she turned pro and became the most recognizable American golfer after Michelle Wie.
Similar to Wie, many expectations were heaped on the young golfer, particularly since she had previously won eight tournaments by the age of 21, and the natural expectation was that she would keep on winning. Yet due to a nagging thumb injury, Creamer hadn’t won a tournament since 2008.
However now that she’s won her first major title, Creamer no longer has to hear that she’s the best LPGA golfer to not have won a major title.
This tournament has also only been her fourth tournament since her thumb operation forced her to make technical playing changes to her game. The 23-year-old player first studied DVDs of Oakmont Country Club a year ago, by watching the 2007 U.S. Open, which turned out to be invaluable practice for the California born player.
Because despite not being able to play during her recuperation from her surgery, the pin placements on the course on Sunday were the same as they were on the DVD. Therefore despite not being able to physically being able to play while she was still healing, her mental preparation had fully trained her to take on the infamous Oakmont course.
"Without a doubt, I've matured over the last couple of months," she added. "It was hard. I've prepared for this for the last three months and it makes everything so much better."
As well, at this tournament her playing had improved and had more consistency. At the start of the final round of tournament Creamer led by three-strokes, which never fell below two shots, finishing the tournament with a 3-under 281.
Due to being limited to only 40 practice shots before each round, the astute player found the best possible way to limit the pounding on her hand was to take as few strokes as possible.
"I was in pain, but I was trying to do everything to not think about it," Creamer said.
During the tournament Creamer surprised even herself with her 4-stroke victory, despite her thumb only being 60 percent healthy. Adjusting her game to her recuperating thumb also forced her to focus on the basics of the game.
“You just don’t get surgery on your thumb and win a championship,” Creamer said. “I don’t think the odds are very good after that. But I believe things happen for a reason, and I think what’s happened made me a stronger person. It’s just will. I’m in pain, but I’m going to play.”
Since the Florida native finally has a major title to go with eight other wins, many believe that she is set to become the new face of the LPGA as Creamer had been fading into the shadows since her season of four wins in 2008.
Creamer ended the tournament at three-under-par 281, four strokes ahead of Na Yeon Choi and Suzann Pettersen. Closing the women’s US Open with a two-under 69, the LPGA nine time tour title winner was also the only player to finish in the red figures.
Creamer is currently the 12th first-time winner amongst the last 15 majors and now joins Cristie Kerr, who is the 2007 winner, as the only Americans to have won this tournament in the last six years. Now that the young golfer has managed to accomplish one of her major career goals, she can now look ahead to the Women’s British Open to try and add another title under her belt.
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