Paula Creamer

In May 2005, Paula Creamer won the Sybase Classic at 18 years 9 months and 17 days, making her the youngest woman to win a Ladies Professional Golf Association tournament in more than half a century, and the second youngest of all time.

While 16-year-old golf prodigy Michelle Wie captured most of the headlines by turning professional in 2005, it was 19-year-old Paula Creamer who made the bigger impact on the golf course.

In July she won the prestigious Evian Masters in France and became the youngest and quickest player to reach US$1 million in LPGA career earnings. She also won the NEC Open and the Masters GC Ladies Classic on the Japan LPGA tour, became the youngest player to win a place in the Solheim Cup team and finished second on the LPGA Tour money list behind Annika Sorenstam, with earnings of US$1,531,780.

Creamer did not take up golf until the relatively late age of 10, but she was an enthusiastic sports competitor from an early age, taking part in tennis, swimming, softball, soccer, gymnastics, dancing and skiing. When she was in the sixth grade she had to choose between being a cheerleader or playing on the golf team. She chose golf and quickly excelled, winning 16 of 17 junior tournaments. It became obvious that she had a special talent, so her parents decided to move from Northern California to Florida where she could attend the David Leadbetter Golf Academy.