When it comes to match play, gamesmanship is a critical weapon to have in your arsenal. Intimidation is the 15th club in the bag of many a great match play golfer.

How does one go about intimidating without sacrificing sportsmanship?

Well, one way is to knock approaches absolutely stiff. On the par-5 2nd hole at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois, Helen Alfredsson hit an excellent second shot to about four feet. Then Michelle Wie stepped up to her ball and fired a laser to three feet.

Alfredsson missed her eagle putt by inches. Wie didn’t miss hers.

Lose a hole when you card a birdie? That’s intimidating.

As for more imaginative ways to intimidate, I’m at somewhat of a loss. Heck, I can’t even intimidate my own six-year-old. But I would imagine that the steely glare of Suzann Pettersen would get an opponent sweating just a bit. However, Petterson’s opponent today, Paula Creamer, doesn’t seem perturbed at all by Pettersen’s icy demeanor.

As for Creamer herself, I have no idea how she intimidates anyone – she’s just too darn adorable. Even when she’s glaring and grimacing and growling.

Well, every player has their own cross to carry, I suppose. And as of now, Creamer is also carrying a 1-up lead into the 12th hole.

Paula Creamer, when not in intimidating match-play mode.

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