Golf: Creamer tops Inkster in playoff; Ochoa’s streak snapped
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Sue Ogrocki/The Associated Press
Photo: Paula Creamer earned her second victory of the year, and sixth for her career, by beating Juli Inkster on Sunday in a playoff at the SemGroup Championship. ‘I was not going to lose this week,’ Creamer said.
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5/4/2008 - 5/5/08
BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — Paula Creamer squandered another late lead and fell into a playoff she didn't want. She got the result she desperately needed, beating Juli Inkster on the second extra hole Sunday in the SemGroup Championship.One week after losing to Annika Sorenstam in a playoff, Creamer bogeyed the
18th hole at Cedar Ridge for the third straight day and wound up in overtime when the 47-year-old Inkster, trying to become the oldest LPGA Tour winner, poured in an
18-foot birdie putt.
Instead of getting nervous, Creamer was determined as ever.
"I was not going to lose this week," she said. "I was going to win the tournament."
She twice gave herself birdie putts in the playoff, making an 8-footer on No. 10 for the victory.
Lost in a terrific duel was the end of Lorena Ochoa's winning streak. Going for a record-tying fifth straight victory, Ochoa never got on track, even in a final round absent of much wind. She closed with a 2-under 69 to tie for fifth, five shots behind.
"I don't know why, but this was a tough course for me, especially on the greens," Ochoa said. "It's the way it is. It's golf. But I'm happy. I look forward to the next week."
Creamer was headed for the worst kind of streak.
She said she gave away the Stanford International Pro-Am last week in south Florida, losing the lead with a careless bogey on the 16th hole and losing to Sorenstam with a bogey on the first playoff hole when she left a 6-foot par putt short.
Creamer was a combined 6 over on her final three holes at Cedar Ridge this week, and looked as if she finally figured out how to finish it off until a 5-iron from the 18th fairway sailed over the green and she missed a 10-foot par putt to shoot 1-over 72.
Inkster, who hasn't won in two years, made her longest putt of the day for a 70, and both finished at 2-under 282.
But the seven-time major champion never gave herself a good look in the two playoff holes, and watching Creamer make birdie on the 10th hole was bittersweet. Earlier in the round, Inkster missed from about the same spot, one of five putts she missed inside 10 feet.
"I never felt comfortable with the putter," Inkster said. "It's funny how you can wake up and feel like you have a two-by-four in your hands instead of a putter. It's disappointing."
Creamer earned $270,000 for her sixth career victory, and second this year.
She almost let this one get away, twice three-putting for bogey. Eventually, the putter paid off.
"She definitely made me win it," Creamer said. "I'm done. I'm mentally done right now."