OAKMONT, Pennsylvania – Paula Creamer held on to win the US Women’s Open on Sunday and claim her first major tournament victory.
Creamer, only 23 but long considered the best women’s golfer to not win a major, went into the final round at sunny Oakmont Country Club with a three-shot lead that never dwindled below two shots. She played 23 holes on the final day with a sore left thumb, including the final five holes of the weather-delayed third round.
Her final-round, 2-under 69 gave her a 3-under 281 for the tournament. Na Yeon Choi of South Korea and Suzann Pettersen of Norway tied for second at 1-over 285.
Limited to 40 practice shots before each round by a still-healing hyperextended left thumb that required surgery in February, the 23-year-old Creamer found the best possible way to limit the pounding on her hand: take as few strokes as possible.
Creamer, known as the Pink Panther for all-pink attire, improved on the 75 she averaged during previous Women’s Open final rounds.