Paula Creamer Claims U.S. Open Title

Oakmont, Pennsylvania, United States (AHN) – Paula Creamer is already the most popular player in women’s golf.

Now she is a major champion.

Creamer, nicknamed The Pink Panther, used a fairways and greens formula over her final nine holes Sunday and held off Suzann Pettersen and Na Yeon Choi to win the U.S. Women’s Open at the Oakmont Country Club.

Creamer, who went into the final 18 holes with a one-shot lead, closed with a 69 for a 3-under-par 281 total over the difficult Oakmont layout.

“It’s crazy, wow, I don’t know what to say,” said the 23-year-old who scored her ninth professional victory. “It’s an amazing ride. I stuck to my game plan, it makes it so much sweeter.”

Her game plan?

“I kept telling myself, ‘just keep making pars, hit the middle of the greens, stay below the hole,” she explained.

It did not come easy for Creamer, who had been close in her last two U.S. Open appearances.

Choi shot an incredible 31 on the front nine, 5-under-par and stepped up to challenge Creamer. She worked her way to 1-over for the tournament and trailed by only two strokes.

Choi’s momentum slowed down with a bogey at the 13th hole.

Then Creamer made the turn at 1-under for the day after reaching the green on the par-5 ninth in two. She then two-putted from 15 feet.

Major championships are forged on the back nine of the final round, and Creamer proved herself starting at No. 13.

She hit her approach shot 7-feet from the pin but missed the birdie putt.

Undeterred, she rolled in a 15-footer for birdie at 14 to go 2-under for the tournament.

At the 15th, Creamer watched her second shot head toward the green, and she liked it.

“Come on!” she implored as the ball settled inside two feet. She made the short putt to go 3-under and led by four with three holes left.

From there it was strictly fairways and greens. She was flawless.

Her victory took her career to the next level and four months ago she wondered if she’d even have a career.

Creamer showed she’s recovered from left thumb surgery even though it still provides significant pain.

“I thought to myself, it would be nice to rest it with a U.S. Open championship,” Creamer said. “The time I was recovering, I’ve matured. It was hard, but thank-you God, thank-you parents!”

Creamer’s final round 69 came after rounds of 72-70-70.

Pettersen and Choi tied for second at 285. Choi had the day’s low round with her closing 66.

Kyung In Kim was solo fourth at 286. Brittany Lang tied with Amy Yang and Jiyai Shin at 287.

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