Creamer in charge at Oakmont
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2010 US Women's Open | Round Three | 11 Jul 2010
Paula Creamer has not missed a cut in her last 23 major championship starts but she is still seeking her first victory at the elite level. Despite eight LPGA Tour titles her best in major championship golf is 3rd which she has recorded twice at the 2005 LPGA Championship and last year’s British Women’s Open.
Creamer has however created the best opportunity to break through at this level as she carries a three shot lead into day four of the US Women’s Open at Oakmont.
Creamer has struggled with the lingering effects of thumb surgery this year and has played only four LPGA Tour events.
“I had to be patient my whole time, you know, recovering through therapy, through all of that,” she said at the completion of this morning’s second round. “You know, you get your cast off, and the first thing you do is want to put a golf club in your hand.
In reality, you have to be more careful than you do with your cast on.
I think that I have learned a lot in these last couple of months just about, you know, myself and what I want, and I know that I can get in my way. I think that I have matured over these last couple months. It shows.”
The 23 year old still has five holes to play of her delayed third round but she has been so impressive in completing her second round of 70 and then playing her first 13 holes of round three in 1 under that she is very well placed to win women’s golf’s greatest prize in 24 hours time.
Play was eventually halted on day three as Creamer was about to play the 14th hole. At that point she led by three over Wendy Ward, by four over Suzann Pettersen and by five over Amy Yang, Brittany Lang and Alexis Thompson. Thompson was the only one of those players to complete her round and, despite a bogey at the last, her round of 70 had moved her from 19th to 4th.
Creamer was required to finish off her second round this morning before heading out in round three. Two thirds of the field were in a similar situation but Creamer took full advantage of what were generally improved playing conditions.
The greens had been softened by the deluge of rain late yesterday and although still a demanding test the golf course was certainly not firming at the rate it had been on Thursday and Friday.
At the halfway point Creamer and Japanese star, Sakura Yokomine, were leading at even par, one ahead of pre tournament favourite Cristie Kerr and first round leader Brittany Lang.
Creamer was soon in sole command as Yokomine dropped five shots in her first three holes. The American made the turn in even par and when she added birdies at the 10th and 12th she threatened to establish a huge lead. A bogey at her final hole of the day was a disappointing was to finish what had been an outstanding day but she has the lead and has the opportunity when play gets underway again at 8.00am on Sunday to consolidate her position.
Lang and Kerr let their chances slip dropping three and five shots respectively in their 13 holes of round three. They are not yet out of it but will need to finish their rounds well tomorrow before the final round gets underway.
The leading Australian is Karrie Webb who added a round of 73 and has the advantage of not being required at the golf course early tomorrow. She is at 6 over and, dependant on how things develop in the final stages of round three, is not yet without a chance of her third US Open title.
Lindsey Wright has done well to recover from a horror start on Thursday and is in 40th position, Katherine Hull and Anna Rawson are 46th and Sarah Kemp 62nd.
