Color pro golfer Paula Creamer red, white, blue & pink

In only four years, professional golfer Paula Creamer has done more for her sport by the ripe old age of 22 than many players accomplish in a lifetime.

To wit:

• LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year honors in 2005.

• Third youngest player ever (18 years, 9 months, 17 days) to win on the LPGA Tour.

• In 2008, she posted just the fifth round of 60 in LPGA history at the 2008 Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic.

• He career earnings of nearly $6 million.

• Collected 4 victories last year to finish second on the 2008 LPGA money list.

That's certainly an impressive list, but if you really want to get the LPGA's "Pink Panther" (she absolutely loves to wear that color) pumped up and talking about golf, just ask her about the Solheim Cup.

Creamer, who has already competed in two Solheim Cups, can't wait for No. 3 in August at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove.

In this interview conducted via e-mail, Creamer discusses the Solheim Cup, her game as the LPGA Tour returns to open its season at the SBS Open on Oahu, her off-season activities, and what lies ahead for the top American and No. 3 ranked female golfer in the world who has become one of the top draws on the LPGA Tour.

Q. When you look back on your 2008 season, what's the first thing that pops into your head?

A. I let some events get away from me, although I had a decent year. I had set some lofty goals for myself and unfortunately fell short of some of them.

Q. What kind of goals have you set for yourself for 2009? Does this being a Solheim Cup year amp things up a little for you?

A. I want to continue building in 2009 on the results of 2008 and prior. I am keeping my sights on putting myself into contention anytime I tee it up, and I know the wins will take care of themselves. I have set some very personal goals for myself this year. They are considerably different types of goals than the past few years. Unfortunately, because of their nature, I cannot share them with you.

As for your question regarding Solheim Cup: are you kidding me!?!?! Amp things up just a little!?!?! Playing for the USA and representing my country as part of a team is what I bleed for. I wish we could start the Solheim Cup tomorrow!

Q. To the casual golf fan, you're one of a handful of players they know on the LPGA Tour. How much of a burden - if at all - is it to be one of the faces of the tour and have to deal with all that goes along with that pressure and responsibility?

A. I like having fans root for me. The bigger the crowd the better. If I can play a small part in bringing more attention to women's professional golf, I'm happy to accept that responsibility. There are a lot of great players and a lot of terrific stories to tell, so I encourage anyone and everyone to give us a look. I take my role on the tour and the associated responsibilities very seriously and look forward to assisting other players and management in making the LPGA more successful than ever.

Q. What's the best thing you did - non-golf related - during the off-season?

A. I bought my own home. I'm learning how to cook, and generally become a responsible homeowner. Didn't realize how much there was to it! I closed on December 31, so I started the year off very excited and also very much in debt! I never realized furniture, window treatments and pots, pans and dishes were all so expensive. It has been great fun though.

Q. How important is it for you to get away from the game for a while? Or do you prefer to continuously work on your game throughout the winter months?

A. I did take a good break from golf in December and January (about six weeks), although I continued my fitness routine throughout the off-season. I love to play golf, I love to compete, but like anyone, I also needed some downtime to catch up on loading my iPod, read some great books and, in general, chilling out. Throw in the house and you can see I stayed busy.

Q. You seem to have such an affinity for kids. I would imagine having a lot of youngsters in attendance during Solheim Cup week makes the event even more festive for you.

A. I really want to expose kids to this great game. Too often, they're caught up in other things and golf doesn't get its fair shot at an early age - when it really needs to be learned. There's nothing more priceless to me than to see a young girl all dressed in pink come up to me and ask me for my autograph and to take a picture with her.

I don't really view myself as a role model, but I know some of the young kids do look at me that way. I accept that responsibility and will always try to not disappoint them, and hopefully assist in getting them interested in this great game. I love seeing so many girls, boys, moms and dads, and even fellow players now showing up in pink. The impact and acceptance of my love of the color pink has brought to the game makes me feel fantastic.

Q. Apart for the actual competition on the course, what's your favorite part of Solheim Cup Week?

A. Being with the team. We are 12 players with a captain and her assistant captains, but we are all ONE for those few short days. I like the team concept quite a lot. We do not get to be part of a team very often, so I cherish the times we do. The two Solheim Cup teams I have previously played on were quite different. Each with their own personalities and as a team member, you have to adjust accordingly to bring the best out in every single member of the team.

All these Solheim Cup questions are really getting me fired up. Let's call Captain (Beth) Daniel and Captain (Alison) Nicholas and get this party started!

Q. A lot of people look at the Solheim Week schedule and see the Junior Solheim and wonder what that's all about. Having competed in the Junior Solheim, what would you tell them about the event and why they should pay close attention?

A. The Junior Solheim Cup is a great chance to see the players who will be on tour in a few years and possibly in future Solheim Cups. I loved my Junior Solheim Cup experiences, both in Minnesota as well as Sweden. Playing against the great young players from Europe and then getting to attend the Solheim Cup in our team uniforms made me all that much hungrier to be on the 2005 team when I was a rookie on the LPGA Tour. I consider that accomplishment one of the highlights of my rookie season.