Paula Creamer's iconic picture at Oakmont's Church Pews bunker inspires an intriguing take from star analyst

Paula Creamer’s iconic picture at the Oakmont Country Club’s Church Pews bunker inspired an intriguing take from golf analyst Brandel Chamblee. The US Open would take place at the Oakmont Country Club this year, and the venue flaunted a stretch of 13 Church Pews between the third and fourth fairways.

Before the tournament, Golfweek senior writer Beth Ann Nichols shared an old picture of Creamer sitting on the Church Pews in a prayer position on X. Nichols captioned the post:

“Fifteen years ago at Oakmont, @golfweek did a walk-n-talk with Paula Creamer early week, and we somehow convinced her to pose in the church pew bunkers. Colleague Mike Wolfe took this amazing photo. Creamer, of course, went on to win.”

Chamblee reshared the photo on X and wrote:

“The church pews, where prayer and profanity meet in tumultuous tussle.”

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Creamer won't play on the LPGA Tour in 2025, but she has been promised to captain the 2026 US Solheim Cup team. Her last LPGA Tour appearance was in 2024.

How did Paula Creamer perform in her last two seasons on the LPGA Tour?

Paula Creamer missed cutlines in all the tournaments last year and withdrew from the Mizuho Americas Open. In 2023, her best finish was a T54 at the DIO Implant LA Open at the Palos Verdes Golf Club with 1-over.

Here's a list of all her 2024 and 2023 LPGA Tour performances:

2024 LPGA Tournaments

LPGA Drive On Championship at the Bradenton Country Club: Missed cut, 72-72, 144 (+2)
Blue Bay LPGA at the Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course: Missed cut, 73-74, 147 (+3)
FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship at the Palos Verdes Golf Club: Missed cut, 72-74, 146 (+4)
Ford Championship pres. by KCC at the Seville Golf and Country Club: Missed cut, 71-72, 143 (-1)
T-Mobile Match Play pres. by MGM Rewards at the Shadow Creek Golf Course: Missed cut, 76-79, 155 (+11)
JM Eagle LA Championship pres. by Plastpro at the Wilshire Country Club: Missed cut, 76-74, 150 (+8)
Cognizant Founders Cup at the Upper Montclair Country Club: Missed cut, 77-74, 151 (+7)
Mizuho Americas Open at the Liberty National Golf Club: Withdrawn, 76, 76 (+4)

2023 LPGA Tournaments

LPGA Drive On Championship at the Superstition Mountain Golf Club: Missed cut, 72-74, 146 (+2)
DIO Implant LA Open at the Palos Verdes Golf Club: T54, 72-71-69-73, 285 (+1)
LOTTE Championship at the Hoakalei Country Club: Missed cut, 76-72, 148 (+4)
JM Eagle LA Championship at the Wilshire Country Club: Missed cut, 73-72, 145 (+3)
Cognizant Founders Cup at the Upper Montclair Country Club: Withdrawn, even-par score
Mizuho Americas Open at the Liberty National Golf Club: Missed cut, 73-80, 153 (+9)
ShopRite LPGA Classic pres. by Acer: Missed cut, 73-72, 145 (+3)
Dana Open at the Highland Meadows GC: Missed cut, 69-78, 147 (+5)
CPKC Women's Open at the Shaughnessy G&CC: Missed cut, 76-78, 154 (+10)
Portland Classic at the Columbia Edgewater Country Club: Missed cut, 75-72, 147 (+3)
Kroger Queen City Championship pres. by P&G: Missed cut, 72-79, 151 (+7)
The Ascendant LPGA at the Old American Golf Course: 71, 72-72-74-78, 296 (+12)
The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican at the Pelican Golf Club: Missed cut, 76-71, 147 (+7)

About the author

Suchita Chakraborty is a senior golf writer at Sportskeeda. She did her post-graduation at St. Xavier's University. For a year now, she has developed a riveting inclination toward golf, with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy being her top-tier motivational figures to indulge in the sport. She even lives by the words of the Hall of Famer, "You can always become better", which impels her to excel every day. Her strong suit in golf is covering the LPGA Tour, especially the nooks and crannies of the international event, the Solheim Cup. As a pastime amusement, Suchita also engages herself in reading about golf controversies. Her favorite pick is ‘LIV and Let Die’ by Alan Shipnuck, which covers the PGA-LIV beef.

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Edited by Samya Majumdar