Paula Creamer Rookie Blog 8

[Gxgolfer]

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On Monday I flew to Los Angeles, California and started to prepare for the Office Depot Tournament at Trump National Golf Course in Palo Verde. This course has perhaps the most beautiful views of the ocean of any course I have seen, including Pebble Beach. There is not one spot on the course that you do not have breath taking views of Santa Catalina Island and the Pacific Ocean. The week went well until Saturday when we were faced with a 4 to 5 hour fog delay. As a result most players did not finish the round, which in turn caused Sundays start to be delayed. I had two holes, 17 and 18, to finish when the horn was blown Sunday evening, suspending play for the day due to darkness. The tournament would run into Monday morning. I arrived at the course at 7:15 AM for an 8:00 AM shotgun start. After going through our normal routine of bag/club selection I warmed up and proceeded to the 17th tee box. I finished par, birdie and moved up a few places, which I was pleased with since I did not play very well the previous days. After a quick shower and a two and a half hour ride, I arrived in Carlsbad at the TaylorMade/Adidas complex. During a discussion about the Solheim Cup and Office Depot, I realized I had made a major mistake when I selected which clubs I would play with earlier that day during my final two holes at the Office Depot Tournament. I had treated it like a new day when in fact it was a continuation, or resumption of the previous day. I have no idea what I was thinking but I had replaced my 3w with a 5-iron, since I would not need the 3w on holes 17 or 18. I immediately called the LPGA officials at the course and informed them what I had done. Since the event was finalized, posted and announced an hour earlier they said they would get back to me. Apparently after conferring with the USGA it was decided that I would be disqualified and the prize money would be readjusted accordingly. The LPGA called me back and informed me of the decision much to my disappointment. I was out over $11,000. I know I learned from the experience and I also know my integrity is worth much more than the check I lost. The next two days in Carlsbad were full of jokes about it as I was teased a fair amount. I had screwed up and I deserved the outcome, although I feel good about self-reporting my mistake. However, calling and informing my caddy, Colin, was not very much fun. When I told him we both just laughed about it and felt so stupid. We repeatedly said, "How could we do that"? That is golf and I can tell you that I will never ever do that again.

 

The tour was in Sacramento playing the Longs Drug Challenge while I was in Carlsbad working on a few things. The week "off" was nice but I hit more balls than if I had played, so it really was not a week off. On Thursday I met up with Steve Shenbaum, and spent a day in Hollywood. I had a great lunch with Kim Williams (the bride in "Father of the Bride"), met Jim Belushi and visited the set of "According to Jim". I then spent time with a Hollywood hair and make-up artist and even had time to do a little damage on Rodeo Drive. Thursday night I flew to San Francisco to spend a few days at our home in Pleasanton. Seeing some of my friends was very nice. On Sunday afternoon my dad and I flew to San Diego to do a clinic on Monday, and then on to Palm Springs and the Samsung Championships.