Pleasanton's Paula Creamer not feeling pressure at CVS/Pharmacy LPGA Challenge
Unlike the past four years playing on her home turf, Paula Creamer isn't feeling the heat heading into this week's CVS/Pharmacy LPGA Challenge.
Winning the U.S. Women's Open will do a lot to change a golfer's world view, and for the Pleasanton native, capturing her first major tournament at prestigious Oakmont C.C. (Pa.) in July effectively transformed this year's homecoming into a delayed celebration, regardless of how she plays.
In short, Creamer simply looks relaxed and happy to be back in the East Bay and excited to show off the hardware. Good golf over the weekend will be a bonus.
"It's great because it's my first time home since the Open," she said. "I've been looking forward to this week for a long time. I love being able to come home, see all my friends, my family and everybody that I've grown up with."
Of course, Creamer would still like to play well and win a tournament where she has played respectably -- she has finished 16th, 11th, 19th and 13th in her four appearances at Blackhawk Country Club -- but done so under a certain amount of competitive angst.
"I'd love to win in the Bay Area," she said Tuesday as she tuned up for Thursday's first round. "It would be a huge thing for me. In the past, I've put so much pressure on myself to try and win here. But this year, I just want to go out and enjoy myself, have a good time and play in front of all the people from my hometown."
Creamer, who now resides in Bradenton, Fla., will make a side trip to Castlewood Country Club in Pleasanton on Friday to deliver her U.S. Open trophy, where it will be on display at the course for about a month. Having played hundreds of rounds at Castlewood while honing her game as a youth and teenage sensation, she felt both thrilled and obligated to make the gesture.
"It's just a neat thing," she said. "I wanted to do it for all the people who have meant so much to me there."
Creamer's victory at Oakmont was stunning in that she had surgery March 30 on her left thumb to repair torn ligaments. She made just three starts before the Open and wasn't much looking like a potential contender -- she finished in a tie for 42nd at the LPGA Championship and then missed the cut at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic the week before the Open.
Things haven't gone all that well since the Open, either. Taking several breaks in her normally ambitious schedule, Creamer hasn't cracked the top 10 in five tournaments, although she did finish tied for 16th in last week's Navistar LPGA Classic in Prattville, Alabama.
All things considered, though, it's been a satisfying year. Even though it's her only victory in 2010 to date (she has nine career wins), capturing the Open got a huge monkey off her back after being arguably the most successful American player on tour without one. And despite playing in just 10 tournaments, she has managed to keep her standing among the elite -- she's 11th on the LPGA money list ($730,463) and 10th in the women's world golf rankings.
She still has a wrap on her thumb and isn't expected to be 100 percent until early next year, but the fact that she knows she's going to be fully healthy again soon is enough for her to be encouraged now.
"It's getting better," Creamer said. "It's been a couple months now since surgery. We're heading in the right direction. I saw my doctor last week and he said it's looking really good, so that's a good sign for me."
Creamer is notorious for meticulous, lengthy practice sessions, and throughout this year, she hasn't been able to follow her normal regimen.
"It's been difficult, not being able to practice as much as I want," she said. "I have to pick and choose whether I want to play (a tournament) or practice. I've started to be able to practice a bit after (rounds), which is a big thing for me. But my whole routine has changed, which has been the hardest part."
Creamer performed better at the Open largely because good scoring called for precision rather than having to hammer the ball a long way, the latter of which she admitted has been the biggest problem in her recovery.
"I've lost a lot of distance because I haven't been able to work on my golf swing as much as I've wanted," she said. "I just can't hit a lot of balls. But like I said, it's improving, so I'm starting to be able to work on some things."
Much like the Open, nobody's expecting anything from Creamer this week except a lot of smiling and celebrating. It could be the perfect time to pull another shocker.
