LPGA Star Paula Creamer Continues Push for Women’s Masters
April 22, 2015
LPGA Tour star and Pleasanton native Paula Creamer isn’t giving up on her quest to see a female version of The Masters.
During a press conference held Tuesday at this week’s Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic at Lake Merced Golf Club, Creamer reiterated her desire to see a Women’s Masters. It was just two days after Jordan Spieth put on the green jacket that Creamer first broached the subject.
“I feel like there is no reason why we shouldn’t be able to,” Creamer said. “It’s 2015. I think Augusta and The Masters and everybody with that event they want to grow the game so badly. That’s what it is, about growing the game and giving people opportunities.”
Creamer noted that in 2014, The Masters began including the Drive, Chip and Putt, a competition for junior golfers that is held the Sunday prior to tournament week.
“There’s no reason we can’t do that for women’s golf as well,” Creamer said. “We’re just as much a part of growing the game. I’ve played there, stayed in Butler’s Cabin. I had an awesome time.”
Not lost on Creamer either is that just a year ago, Pinehurst hosted the U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Open back-to-back.
“I think the patrons and everybody would love to have two weeks there, two tournaments,” Creamer said. “Why wouldn’t you? Hopefully we’ll see something change and happen.”
Of course, for anything to happen, it would be up to the folks at Augusta National. Upon hearing of Creamer’s original request, Augusta National chairman Billy Payne pretty much squashed the idea. Among his reason was fitting a women’s event into the schedule.
“We have a very short member season at Augusta National. It’s seven months only,” Payne said. “The time that we dedicate to the preparation and conduct of the tournament is already extensive. I don’t think that we would ever host another tournament.”
Creamer isn’t buying it.
“There is no reason why you can’t revisit things and you can’t look at it,” Creamer said. “You know, I think somebody’s got to speak up and say something. I’ve never been afraid to do that, so there is no reason why I can’t voice my opinion on it. It’s an idea. I don’t think that people should be ashamed to talk about it. I would like to know truthfully why we wouldn’t be able to have a tournament there. When they’ve only got one tournament a year there I think the scheduling issue is kind of strange to me.”
–Jerry Stewart
