Southern California's No. 1 Source for Golf
STROKE OF THE DAY |
"Winning isn't everything, but wanting it is. " |
-Arnold Palmer |
SITE
SEARCH
GOLF
CALENDAR
PEOPLE
|
||||
|
Paula Creamer is more than a colorful young presence on the LPGA Tour. She’s a proven winner. In 2005, only four days after graduating from high school, Creamer won her first LPGA Tour event, becoming the youngest winner of a multi-round event in tour history. Two months later, she won the Evian Masters to become the fastest player to reach $1 million in career earnings on the LPGA Tour. She followed that up by becoming the first rookie to qualify for the Solheim Cup. Though she didn’t win in 2006, Creamer posted 14 top-10 finishes and became the youngest player in tour history to shoot a 64. She got back in the winner’s circle last month by kicking off 2007 with a victory at the season-opening SBS Open in Hawaii. With talent, good looks and a tendency to speak her mind, the golfer known as the Pink Panther could be the face of the LPGA Tour for many years to come. After all, she’s only 20 and has plenty of game. Creamer, who was born in the Bay Area and now lives in Florida, will return to California for the Kraft Nabisco Championship — the LPGA Tour’s first major of the year — at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage on March 29-April 1. Here are some of her thoughts on early success and where she goes from here. What is the biggest motivation for you on the golf course: To do your best or to win every time out? Of course I want to win every time out. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t enter. Realistically, though, I know that probably will not happen. I am hardest on myself when I beat myself. There will always be people that will play better on any given day. I know if I play the way I can I will win many, many events. Golf is measured over time, but must be played one shot at a time. It’s obvious from your success in your first two years that your decision to turn pro without going to college was the right one. What would you tell other talented female golfers who are considering such a path? Not to give up on any dreams. Hard work and desire can lead to achieving almost anything. In my case, I will get my degree. It will just take longer while I’m playing the Tour, but there is no reason both cannot be accomplished. Because of my plan to pursue a degree, the decision was difficult, yet easy. Your nickname is the Pink Panther and you seem to have embraced a feminine look on the golf course. Do you think it’s important for LPGA players to embrace their femininity? I think the most important thing is for players to be themselves. I like being a girl, I like girlie things, but I also like to compete and particularly like to win. Both seem to fit together for me, so I guess you could say I am at peace and being myself. In the two years I have been on tour, the color pink has been associated with me quite often. I like bringing about change and really feel good when I see so many players and fans getting on board the “pink movement.” What is the biggest challenge facing the LPGA Tour? I don’t think any one topic is the key. Many smaller pieces have to occur so that the synergy created by the parts can impact the entire process, one example being that a partnership relationship has to mature between the Tour and the tournaments. Sponsors need to see a return on investment even if measured subjectively or conceptually. Additionally, a better relationship with the media of all types because exposure is such an important part of the future success of the LPGA. These are just a few, and obviously individually they are not as powerful as collectively. Have you been offered an exemption by a PGA Tour event? If so, why did you decline? If not, would you contemplate it? Yes. I want to be the No. 1 woman player in the world, and to get there, I need to put my full-time effort on competing in women’s golf, so playing a PGA Tour event isn’t something I need to do right now. Maybe someday down the road, depending on the particular circumstances. What have you learned about yourself as a person after being on the LPGA Tour for two years? I know for sure I made the right decision to turn professional in high school. I have gained a lot of confidence in myself and my abilities as a result of the success I’ve had playing professional women’s golf worldwide at the highest level. Based on your performance on the LPGA Tour, it looks like it’s been easy for you advancing into the upper echelon. Has it been easier than you thought or are you working harder than ever before on your game? Actually, I probably practice less than I did as a junior. I play more, though, so that is a plus. The “upper echelon” is too subjective and theoretical for me. There is only one place I want to be and that is on top. I often hear people say, “you make it look so easy,” which I take as quite a compliment. Truth be known, though, it has taken and still takes a lot of hard work and long hours to get to the point where I can make it “look easy” to others. I may only be 20 years old, but I would bet I have put in as many or more hours into my career development than almost anybody. I know it’s a massive commitment on my part, but it’s something I really want to do. I have definite career goals, and I’m willing to put in the work to get there. If you could choose between being the No 1. golfer on the LPGA Tour or the No. 10 golfer on the PGA Tour, which would you choose? Now that is a really tough question. Being both No. 1 and No. 10 simultaneously sounds good to me. How important is a connection to the fans for an athlete, particularly an LPGA Tour player? I have so many fans and I love and respect every one of them. I draw energy and motivation from them. The connection is something that just happens out of mutual respect, I think. I always have appreciated those who take time away from family and friends to come out and watch me play. I try to not disappoint them with my performance and I wish they all could know how much I respect their time and support. Some players try to force a connection, but I think most people see through that. It is most powerful when it just happens and is unexplainable. What are some of your hopes, dreams and goals for the 2007 season? Win many times, including any team events that may be on the schedule during the month of September. If you were LPGA commissioner for a day, what would you change? I would define where I want the Tour to be in five years or 10 years and hire the greatest minds in golf to figure out how to accomplish that. And also how to grow pink grass. SG |
||||
RSS Subscribe
Digg This Article
