Paula Creamer too nonchalant over Stanford International playoff loss to Annika Sorenstam
Yes, Paula Cremaer is still better than Michelle Wie now, will always be better than Wie. But will Creamer ever start demanding more than that of herself?
You have to wonder after Creamer lost a playoff to Annika Sorenstam and then essentially brushed it off to nerves and inexperience today in South Florida. Creamer told reporters at the Safeway International that the putter shook in her hands on the first playoff hole - also the last playoff hole after a Creamer bogey.
On the one hand, you could chalk this up as refreshing honesty that’s too rare in the world of sports. Still, Creamer’s been around long enough, has won enough, that she should not be spooked out just because the match went to a playoff.
Creamer shouldn’t be talking about the experience she gained. Not after missing a six-foot par putt on that extra hole. First career LPGA playoff regardless. Part of you cannot help but wish she’d go a little ballistic and demand more.
Instead it’s more “I’m going against one of the best players in the world ever to play golf. There’s a lot to learn from that” coming out of Creamer’s mouth.
Maybe, it’s time for Creamer to learn she hates losing. This was a huge opportunity blown, a chance to beat the old gun she’s had plenty of issues with in the past in a one-on-one duel. Those moments don’t come around often. There’s no guarantee Creamer will ever get another like this against an aging Sorenstam.
Before Sorenstam became one of golf’s greatest winners, she was one of the worst losers you’ve ever seen. She’d be screaming at herself in parking lots. Maybe Paula Creamer needs to learn how to be a bad loser, to get her insides torn apart by the prospect of seeing Sorenstam hoisting that trophy, before she can ever be a truly dominant winner.
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11 comments
You writer types should try playing the game once in awhile, you have no idea how it feels to be in that situation.
md
The last time I checked, it was a two-person playoff.
In every such circumstance there can be only one winner and also one loser.
Since the sport in question is golf, we should hope to have a happy but gracious winner along with good loser. We have both. Tantrums and bitterness never accomplished a thing.
Alex USMC 1969-73
Mike
And kudos to Ms Creamer as well. She played well, lost, and was sporting about it. That's a real role model for young golfers.
Anyone care to imagine Ms Wie's comments had she been in Paula's place? ROTFL...I know it's a STRETCH to imagine her in a playoff, but still....I tend to doubt she'd have been half as gracious.
It doesn't bother me as much that Paula lost a sudden-death playoff to Annika as it does the manner in which she lost it.
Paula had out scored Annika head to head for the regulation 18 holes. We then had the number two and three women in the rankings start the playoff in what amounted to match play. Here was surely the makings of a memorable finish.
Paula smoked her tee shot, outdriving her more experienced opponent by plenty. Annika was forced to lay up, leaving the door open for Paula to throw caution to the winds, and go for the green in two. thereby applying pressure to her opponent. After all, the hole was only 514 yards, par five. Why not go for broke, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Instead, Paula chose to lay up with a PITCHING WEDGE! She actually put herself outside Annika despite her prodigious drive. What a waste! She then flew her approach over the pin, then three-putted for a bogey six.
Instead of a thrilling finish, we were treated to Annika backing into her 71st victory by two-putting from ten feet for a mundane par, truly a display of pitty-pat golf at its best.(or worst)
It's little wonder that many folks are bored to tears by the LPGA brand of golf.
Alex USMC 1969-73
How Ms Creamer lost wasn't at issue in the original post - the Bald One thought she should be flinging clubs and cursing like a sailor (or a Woods) because she lost.
My point was she displayed a sportsmanlike demeanor in her post-match interview and for THAT I considered her a good role model.
NOT because she made a poor club selection and lost the playoff. Really - who watches LPGA golf seriously??? I only tune in for the T&A.....
My original point was the same as yours. I said as much in my first post.
I actually went to a few(three) LPGA tournaments as a live spectator. I describe the LPGA game as slow-motion golf.
Alex USMC 1969-73
You are so contradictory. In previous posts you have claimed that you would rather watch grass grow, paint dry, listen to your own tummy rumbles, etc, than watch the LPGA, yet you clearly do so. Rationale?
BV - Not the most laudable comment from you, but aren't there "better" channels for "T&A"?
Or wasn't so nonchalant after all.
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