Creamer Notches Win No. 4 in 2008

And why is that notable? Because when Paula Creamer won the Samsung World Championship on Sunday to get her fourth LPGA win of the year, she became the first American since 1999 to record four wins in one season on the LPGA Tour.

But "Team USA," so to speak, may be getting some help on the LPGA in 2009 when Vicky Hurst, Stacy Lewis and (finally!) Michelle Wie join the tour. Whether Creamer and other American golfers want that extra competition is another matter ... but Creamer is the brightest American star in women's golf at the moment, and three potential stars are on the way. (Yes, Wie is already a superstar in terms of fame; now her game needs to get back to that level.)

For Creamer, it was career LPGA win No. 8 at the tender age of 22. In some ways, Creamer at this stage in her career reminds me of Lorena Ochoa at a similar point in Ochoa's career. The wins were coming, Ochoa seemed always to be lurking near the leaderboard, but she struggled in some high-pressure moments and blew some major chances. Creamer has done the same. But we all know how the story turned out for Ochoa. Will it turn out that way for Creamer? That's why we all watch.

Photos: Creamer wins the 2008 Samsung

See also:

• Paula Creamer pictures
• Paula Creamer biography