LPGA Member Paula Creamer Talks About Life Inside and Outside the Ropes

LPGA member Paula Creamer had to wait almost four years to capture her 10th tour title. After winning the U.S. Women's Open in 2010, the Pink Panther has gone through a lot inside and outside the ropes.

Currently ranked as the 18th best player in the world, Creamer is juggling between organizing a big wedding and securing another title before the 2014 season is over.

After 36 holes, she sits second in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational, at 9-under, trailing Christina Kim by one shot.

In an exclusive interview with Bleacher Report, she opened up about life on tour and off the road.

Bleacher Report: Let's start talking about your victory at the HSBC Women's Championship.

Paula Creamer: It was unbelievable. Everything came together that week, and that putt (in 18th) was incredible. I made some really good putts in the final round. Everyone remembers the last one, but in my mind I have those last few holes. It felt great to hold that trophy again. It was the best feeling I've had in a long time.

B/R: Did you shake off a lot of pressure?

PC: I think so. It definitively helped with believing in myself. It got me back to where I wanted, and it was hard because with a win like that there come other things. I forgot what I was doing and my golf suffered for a while, then it got back. It has been an up and down year, but I feel good with everything.

B/R: Which putt was more special for you, the one in 2010 to win the U.S. Women's Open, or the one in Singapore to secure your first win in after 44 months (three years and eight months)?

PC: I don't know; it's tough. Winning your first major it is the best feeling, especially after coming off from surgery, but I hadn't won since then. To have the next win to be like that, with a long big putt. The U.S. Open was awesome golf that I played, the[n] in the HSBC Women's Championship I putted really well. It's tough to say which one felt better.

B/R: Asia has always been good to you. Talk about your relationship with that region of the world.

PC: Yeah, I have my calendar in Japan; I love going over there. I love the culture and embracing people. We don't get to go over there very often, we don't get to see them as much. You have so many fans, and they come to watch you every year, so I embrace it.

B/R: There's a lot on your plate outside the ropes—you're getting married. How do you juggle between organizing the wedding and being out here week in week out?

PC: I really thought it was going to be a lot easier. Nobody can prepare you for this, I'm blessed I'm marrying my best friend, but at the same time there's a lot around it. I want a big wedding, I want an elaborate wedding, I just never realized it would be like this. I would never change it, but there are a lot of things to do. It is hard to try and plan the rest of your life, as well as your career at the same time.

B/R: You're 28 years old and you're already an LPGA veteran. What are your thoughts on that?

PC: It's crazy isn't it? I won my first tournament in 2005, when I was an 18-year-old. I won the Rookie of the Year Award, but that happened basically 10 years ago. It's hard to feel like a veteran because I learn something new every single day, but I am a veteran and I have a new role now, which I'm embracing. I'm helping some of the new girls, trying to let them know that there's a lot more out there other than golf. You have to be happy outside the ropes, as well. It's a tough life, a tough career, but it's worth it once you figure out how to balance it.

B/R: What's next for the Pink Panther?

PC: Just to keep doing what I'm doing. There's so much that I want to do with golf. My foundation is really starting to take off and I'm embracing that and giving my extra time to that. Obviously I'm going to be a wife, I'm not ready to be a mom now, but when the time comes I'll have to do a lot of thinking about my golf. I love working hard, I love the grind, I love the pressure and I want to become the No.1 player in the world.

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