Ochoa and Creamer Draw Big Crowds and Stay Close

BETHLEHEM, Pa., July 9 -- A marshal waiting in the tee box of hole No. 5 performed a double take, swiveling his head toward a traveling gallery unlike any of the others he witnessed. The fans that came to Saucon Valley Country Club on Thursday morning for the opening round of the U.S. Women's Open gravitated toward the marquee group: Lorena Ochoa, Paula Creamer and In-Kyung Kim.

Ochoa, the world's top-ranked player, and Creamer, ranked fourth, are among the most popular in the sport and both arrived here seeking their first Open championship. Although she received the least applause of the three, Kim is No. 8 in the world.

The group started on the back nine minutes before 8 a.m. and worked their way around the course in front of an expanding audience. When the final putt fell on No. 9, Ochoa and Creamer immediately met for a hug. It was not the first time they have played together, but the Thursday-Friday grouping in the Open seemed more like a weekend pairing -- and might just reveal who will receive the trophy on Sunday afternoon.

"I've played with Lorena a bunch of times," Creamer said, "but it's always nice playing with her."

Creamer witnessed why Ochoa is the world's best player. Ochoa shot a 2-under-par 69, one shot behind first-round leader Na Yeon Choi of South Korea. Creamer finished with a 1-over 72, placing her in a cadre of golfers during a day when few distinguished themselves.

On Wednesday, Creamer was asked to explain why she and Ochoa are 0 for 12 in U.S. opens despite their obvious talent.

"I don't know. That's a good question," Creamer said. "It just hasn't been either of our weeks. Haven't been able to play better than the person that's won. U.S. Open and all majors, there's so much that goes into it, just the amount of pressure you put on yourself, the amount of, I guess, anxiety in a sense that you have before it. You want to try so hard."

Ochoa, whose rate of winning draws similarities with Tiger Woods, differs from the top-ranked men's player when it comes to majors. She has won only two, and still must conquer the LPGA Championship and the U.S. Open.

When she first joined the LPGA Tour, she needed to win events to establish herself as one of golf's finest players. Now, Ochoa's performance in majors will dictate where she stands among the game's all-time greats.

"I think always that they mean a lot," Ochoa said Wednesday. "Doesn't matter if it's your first year or your 20th year. You always have that different feeling, when you go to a major championship golf course. It will mean a lot to me to win this week."

Ochoa's successful first day could be attributed to her final nine holes, which included two birdies and no bogeys after she recorded two birdies and two bogeys on the first nine. When Creamer and Kim both watched their approach shots roll into the water on No. 3 -- they both double-bogeyed the hole after the penalty -- Ochoa cleared the water and birdied the difficult hole.

"That was just a bad hole for them," Ochoa said. "On the other hand, they played good holes that I didn't play good. On a U.S. Open course, you always need to be patient, always be, 'If it doesn't happen in this one, it's going to happen in the next one.' "

That was the attitude Creamer displayed. She rebounded from the double bogey with birdies on two of her next three holes and kept herself in the mix.

Creamer's eight wins without a major victory are the most among active players. She ordinarily holds her trademark pink golf ball for the final day of tournament, but Creamer used it on Thursday in an effort to spark a different result.

Creamer does not have a win during a turbulent 2009 season. She was beset earlier this year with a mysterious stomach ailment and has recently struggled with a thumb injury that required two cortisone shots before this week's tournament.

The thumb is fine, she said. The nerves will be tested this week, though. Creamer led last year with an opportunity to win before finishing sixth. The crowd will continue to watch and the questions will continue to be directed at Ochoa and Creamer until they finally win a U.S. Open.

"I'm learning how to control my emotions," Creamer said Wednesday. "It's finding out what works best for you. And I'm sure [Ochoa] looks at the British Open and Kraft when she's won and said, 'What have I done differently?' And probably there's not much that's different."