Paula Creamer will return to Sentosa confident that she has what is takes to repeat her glorious win last year, which concluded with one of the greatest sporting moments - a spectacular 75-foot eagle putt!
Defending champion Paula Creamer will return to Sentosa confident that she has what is takes to repeat her glorious win last year, which concluded with one of the great sporting moments of the year - a spectacular 75-foot eagle putt!
The victory marked a long over-due return to the winners circle, and speaking to the media about her title defence at Singapore’s premier golf tournament, last year’s win clearly meant a great deal to the 28 year old.
“It was such a monumental move for me, my confidence and everything that I’ve worked for, and you know - I do really feel that it pushed me and it made me taste that winning sensation and there’s nothing better than that.”
Commenting on the putt that won her the LPGA fan vote for the Kia Most Compelling Performance of the year, she added, “It was fun, it was exciting, it puts a broad smile on your face. You know, it just makes me realise that I played a good game. Here you are with a 75-foot eagle-putt, determined you’ll make it – puts everything into perspective. And, yeah, I’m glad I didn’t have to do it again. But you know those moments in sport – that’s what brings me back and that’s what keeps everybody involved.”
Creamer finished in an impressive third place in 2013 before last year’s win and obviously feels at ease on The Serapong and in the Lion City.
A highly talented player in her amateur days and a formidable contender on the LPGA Tour since her rookie year in 2005, Creamer has put her name to ten LPGA Tour titles (plus a further two LPGA of Japan titles), represented the USA on five occasions in the Solheim Cup, surpassed US$ 11 million in career earnings and broken a number of records along the way.
Speaking about her motivation to keep going, Creamer said, "My number one goal is to be the number one player in the world and to stay there. I know I have a lot of work to do, but that drive and the ambition for that is just so high that nothing else can compare to it. And if I can inspire one, two or ten girls, whether it’s the colour pink or the fact that I wear a skirt – something, it doesn't matter. It’s my ambition to grow the game of golf and continue what we have.”
One area that will be unchartered territory for the player affectionately known as the Pink Panther when she arrives in Singapore, however, will be that of being a wife. Creamer tied the knot with fiancée Derek Heath in December before jetting off to enjoy a honeymoon in tropical paradise.
Speaking about married life, Creamer added, “I married my best friend and I feel great. He knows exactly my goal and what I want to achieve. Just because I’m married, doesn’t necessarily mean I’m going to stop working for any of this. I still want to do a lot for myself. It was great to be able to spend time with my husband and get away. Everything happens for a reason and I feel so refreshed – it’s a new feeling. When I got back to practice after my honeymoon, I was so motivated, I was so excited to get a club back in my hand.”
Paula Creamer joins a star-studded field that includes the world’s top ten ranked golfers, when the eighth edition of the HSBC Women’s Champions returns to Sentosa Golf Club from 5 – 8 March. The international festival of golf will see the world’s top players go head to head for their share of the $1.4 million prize purse in the tournament frequently referred to as Asia’s Major.
