Thumbs up for Creamer at US Open
Only three weeks since she returned from injury, Paula Creamer won her first major yesterday, taking the US Women's Open at Oakmont Country Club by four strokes.
Creamer had undergone thumb surgery earlier this year, and the digit continued to trouble the 23-year-old at the major. Adding to her woes, with Friday's second round suspended because of stormy weather, Creamer was forced to play 52 holes over the last two days, including 23 on Sunday. But neither problem was enough to prevent Creamer from finishing two-under-par 69 yesterday, three-under-par for the tournament.
That meant Creamer was the only competitor to break par, Norway's Suzann Pettersen and Korea's Na Yeon Choi tying for second place on one-over-par for the tournament. Choi was five-under on Sunday, but even that score, the second best of the day, wasn't enough to catch up with the American.
"I've always thought of my career as being a pretty solid player," Creamer said. "But that question always lurked: How come you never won a major? And now we never get to get asked that question again."
Christie Kerr, who two weeks ago became the first American to take the world No. 1 ranking, could only finish nine-over-par here, tied for 17th place. Kerr bogeyed three of the last five holes for a disappointing end to her tournament.
Michelle Wie, perhaps the most high profile player on the LPGA, missed the cut after opening rounds of 82 and 76. Despite her notoriety, in part thanks to her decision to take part in some men's tours events, Wie is still just 20 years old - and has won only one LPGA event.
Whatever, this result was all about Creamer. Often referred to as "the Pink Panther" because of her preference for pink golf-wear, the nine-time LPGA Tour winner was certainly tickled that colour yesterday.
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