Columnist Adam Candee: Future is now for LPGA’s newest star on tour

Adam Candee

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 | 9:38 a.m.

Adam Candee covers golf for the Sun. Reach him at (702) 259-4085 or by e-mail at candee@lasvegassun.com.

Pencils down, heads up: Name the teenage girl who won the LPGA's qualifying school last year and just claimed her first tour victory last week in New York.

If you said Michelle Wie, there is certainly no soup for you. And if you said Nancy Lopez, put away the bell bottoms and pony up for a new set of encyclopedias.

Those who came up with Paula Creamer know their golfing current events. An 18-year-old rookie on tour, Creamer earned her first victory in just her ninth professional start at the Sybase Classic by shooting 6-under and coming from behind on the final day of the tournament. At 18 years and 8 months old, Creamer became the second-youngest woman ever to win a professional tournament.

Her previous best finish as a pro was a tie for third at last month's LPGA Takefuji Classic at Las Vegas Country Club. It was there that we discovered Creamer, all dressed up in trademark pink with nowhere to go in a 21-and-over town, is a rock star nonetheless.

No player at the Takefuji drew more fans seeking autographs, not even pin-up girl Natalie Gulbis. LPGA officials just smiled and watched as Creamer signed whatever the kids (and adults) put in front of her as she tried in vain to make it out of the scoring area off the 18th green.

Wie's turns with the men may be the sexier headline, but it is Creamer's game that is serving notice on tour right now.

Moore shot 1-over in the three-day tournament to lead UNLV to its first regional victory in eight years. While Moore failed to win medalist honors in a second consecutive event, he led the Rebels' push for momentum going into next week's NCAA championship outside Baltimore, Md.

To hear UNLV coach Dwaine Knight tell it, Moore came into the regional at Stanford, Calif., still dragging from a couple of weeks of appearances and final exams. In the week before regionals, Moore made a stop in Carson City to take in praise from state legislators before heading to the Dallas area to accept the Hogan Award as the nation's top collegiate player.

He'll always protect his boys, but at the same time, Knight is not one for excuses. That Knight planned to back off with lighter practices leading into next week is a testament to Moore's need for rest, as much as any other Rebel.

The word here is that Moore will be primed for nationals because this is the final goal in his amateur career. While he can't play in all five positions for the Rebels, we'll take the extremely safe bet that he challenges to defend his individual title.

Wasn't it just yesterday that Norman, easily one of the three most talented golfers of his generation, wrote his name in the wrong history book by blowing a six-shot lead in the final round of the Masters? Actually, it wasn't. That was nine years ago.

And didn't he lead all four majors on Saturday last year, while only winning the British Open? Nope. Guess it's just that Bill Buckner, Phil McConkey and the rest of 1986 used to feel a lot closer than it does now.

Norman postponed what was to be his first tournament on the 50-and-over circuit, pulling out of next week's Senior PGA Championship outside Pittsburgh. He is still recovering from late March back surgery and did not feel ready to compete yet.

Although Norman turned 50 earlier this year, his PGA Tour exemption does not expire until 2007. He earned a 10-year pass with his last tour victory, the 1997 NEC World Series of Golf.