Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Paula Creamer

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Paula Creamer made an impact.

Paula Creamer is a highly accomplished American professional golfer, primarily known for her success on the LPGA Tour. She has secured 12 professional tournament victories, with 10 of those being LPGA Tour events. Creamer achieved a peak ranking of number 2 in the Women's World Golf Rankings. A significant highlight of her career is winning the 2010 U.S. Women's Open. By the close of the 2023 season, her career earnings of $12,161,187 placed her 19th on the all-time LPGA career money list, demonstrating her consistent performance and success in the sport.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2002: Played in the Junior Solheim Cup

In 2002, Paula Creamer played on the United States team in the Junior Solheim Cup.

2003: Player of the Year by the AJGA

In 2003, Paula Creamer was named Player of the Year by the AJGA. She also played on the United States team in the Junior Solheim Cup and was a semi-finalist in the U.S. Girls' Junior and U.S. Women's Amateur.

June 2004: Second Place in ShopRite LPGA Classic

In June 2004, Paula Creamer placed second in the LPGA Tour's ShopRite LPGA Classic, finishing one stroke behind Cristie Kerr.

December 2004: Won LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament

In December 2004, Paula Creamer won the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament by five strokes to secure membership on the Tour for the 2005 season.

2005: Graduation from IMG Pendleton School

In 2005, Paula Creamer graduated from the IMG Pendleton School the week after her first LPGA victory.

2005: Joined LPGA Tour and Won Sybase Classic

In 2005, Paula Creamer joined the LPGA Tour and won the Sybase Classic, becoming the LPGA's second-youngest event winner.

2005: Won Sybase Classic and Evian Masters

In 2005, Paula Creamer won the Sybase Classic and became the youngest winner of a multiple-round tournament in LPGA history. She also won the Evian Masters tournament in France and became the youngest and quickest player to reach $1 million in LPGA career earnings. She also won the NEC Open on the Japan LPGA tour, and added a victory at the Masters GC Ladies tournament. Creamer earned a spot on the U.S. Solheim Cup Team and helped the U.S. team win the cup. Creamer won the LPGA Rookie of the Year award for her season.

2005: Turned Professional

In 2005, after winning the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, Paula Creamer turned professional at the age of 18.

2005: Charitable Work for The First Tee

Since 2005, Paula Creamer has been involved in charitable work for The First Tee, an organization benefiting junior golfers.

February 20, 2006: Second in Women's World Golf Rankings

On February 20, 2006, Paula Creamer was ranked second behind Annika Sörenstam in the inaugural Women's World Golf Rankings.

February 2008: Won Fields Open in Hawaii

In February 2008, Paula Creamer earned her fifth LPGA title at the Fields Open in Hawaii, coming back from a late two-shot deficit with birdies on the final three holes.

2009: Finished 10th on the LPGA Money List

In 2009, Paula Creamer finished 10th on the LPGA money list with earnings of over $1.1 million. She also played in her third Solheim Cup, with the U.S. team winning the competition.

2009: LPGA Leader in Greens in Regulation

In 2009, Paula Creamer was the LPGA leader in greens in regulation.

July 11, 2010: Won U.S. Women's Open

On July 11, 2010, Paula Creamer won the U.S. Women's Open, her first major victory, with a score of 3-under-par.

2010: U.S. Women's Open Champion

In 2010, Paula Creamer won the U.S. Women's Open.

2011: Lexi Thompson Won Navistar LPGA Classic

In 2011, Lexi Thompson won the Navistar LPGA Classic at the age of 16, breaking Paula Creamer's record as the youngest winner of a multiple-round tournament in LPGA history.

2011: Selected to U.S. Solheim Cup team

In 2011, Paula Creamer was again selected to the U.S. Solheim Cup team and posted victories in three of her first four matches.

2012: Driving Distance and Putting Performance in 2012

In 2012, Paula Creamer's average driving distance was approximately 245 yards, ranking 193rd on the LPGA Tour. She also ranked outside the top 100 in putts per round in 2012.

2012: Longest Two-Player Playoff in LPGA Tour History

In 2012, at the Kingsmill Championship, Paula Creamer tied with Jiyai Shin and entered a playoff that extended to nine holes, becoming the longest two-player playoff in LPGA Tour history; Creamer lost to Shin after bogeyed at the ninth playoff hole.

2013: Endorsement Income and Featured in EA Sports Game

In 2013, Forbes estimated Paula Creamer's endorsement income to be $4.5 million, placing her among the 10 highest-earning female athletes. Her likeness was also featured in EA Sports' Tiger Woods PGA Tour series of golf video games.

2013: Appeared in the Solheim Cup

In 2013, Paula Creamer appeared in the Solheim Cup, but lost three of her four matches as the U.S. team lost 18–10.

March 2, 2014: Won HSBC Women's Champions Tournament

On March 2, 2014, Paula Creamer captured her first LPGA tournament since the 2010 U.S. Women's Open, winning the HSBC Women's Champions tournament in Singapore with a 75-foot eagle putt on the second playoff hole.

2014: Decline in Greens in Regulation Ranking

By 2014, Paula Creamer's ranking in greens in regulation fell to 51st.

September 2015: Fell Outside Top 40 in World Rankings

By September 2015, Paula Creamer had fallen outside the top 40 in the world rankings, dealing with the effects of swing and equipment changes. Despite not qualifying on points for the 2015 Solheim Cup team, Creamer was chosen for her sixth appearance in the event as a captain's pick.

2016: Changed Swing Instructors and Experienced Slump

In 2016, Paula Creamer changed swing instructors, beginning to work with Gary Gilchrist after 15 years with David Whelan. She experienced a slump in performance, missing the cut seven times, and her LPGA Tour earnings fell under $300,000.

2023: Ranked 19th on LPGA Career Money List

As of the end of the 2023 season, Paula Creamer ranked 19th on the all-time LPGA career money list, with earnings of $12,161,187.

2023: Creamer's Performance in 2023

In 2023, Paula Creamer participated in 13 tournaments but only made the cut in two of them. By the end of the 2023 season, she ranked 19th on the LPGA all-time career money list, with earnings totaling $12,161,187.