Creamer steps up to claim Samsung World Championship

Oct 6, 2008 - 12:51 AM HALF MOON BAY, California (Ticker) -- With a lot of pressure building around her, Paula Creamer answered with a big putt.

Creamer knocked in a long birdie at No. 15 to retake the lead and held on en route to a one-stroke victory at the Samsung World Championship on Sunday.

It was the fourth victory of the year and eighth career for the 22-year-old Californian, who finished with a 3-under-par 69.

The four wins this season are the most by an American player since Juli Inkster collected five in 1999.

Beyond adding to a strong campaign, it was an emotional win for Creamer, who broke into tears during a TV interview when she realized that she claimed the tournament near her hometown of Mountain View.

"This means a lot. That is (a) big win for myself," she said later. "I put so much pressure on myself every time I come here and to finally have one, it feels really good. I'm very excited.

"I briefly looked at my phone and people kept saying, 'Did I see you cry? I didn't think you had emotions and all of this.' It does. It really means a lot to me, this win."

Creamer came into the final round with a one-shot lead following a 68 on Saturday. That slim edge disappeared on the back nine Sunday when Korean Song-Hee Kim birdied the 14th to pull even at 8-under.

As if losing the lead was not enough, two-time defending champion and world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa and the Hall of Famer Inkster both notched a birdie on No. 16 to pull within a stroke. Also moving to 7-under was Suzann Pettersen with a birdie at the 15th.

Despite the crowd at the top of the leaderboard, Creamer did not lose her focus, coming up with a birdie putt from 25 feet out on her next hole to move back ahead. She maintained that lead until the 18th, when a shaky birdie attempt nearly cost her.

However, Creamer was able to lip in a par putt to seal the win, ending up at 9-under 279 and pocketing $250,000.

"Honestly, I didn't see it go in," Creamer said about the clinching putt. "All I heard was the people cheer for it, then I was like, it was like the longest two seconds of my life having it roll into the hole."

Seeking her first win on the LPGA Tour, Kim finished a shot behind following a final-round 68.

It was the second time the 20-year-old was a runner-up this season, ending up 11 strokes behind Ochoa at the Corona Championship in April.

"Going in (Saturday), I didn't have a great feel for my shots, so I was a little worried coming into the round today," Kim said through an interpreter. "But I played pretty well. I had a lot of opportunities but I wasn't able to convert all of them, so I'm a little frustrated."

Ochoa, who was trying to become the fourth player to win this event at least three times, ended up in a tie for third at 281 following a 69.

The Mexican finished tied with Inkster (68), Pettersen (68) and Angela Stanford (70).

Ochoa had a much better showing on the back nine than she had on Saturday, notching an eagle at the par-5 10th and the birdie on 17th. However, she went into a bunker on her approach of the 18th green before having to save for a par.

She struggled mightily after the turn in the third round, ending up with a double bogey at No. 13 and two other bogeys en route to a 1-over 73 to hamper her chances for another crown.

Inkster was looking for her fourth win here, claiming her last title back in 2000.

A five-time champion here, Annika Sorenstam finished in 15th at 3-over-par 291 following a closing-round 70.