American golf stars, Paula Creamer and Danielle Kang, who played lead roles in the USA Solheim Cup victory yesterday, are the latest Major winners to confirm their places in the field for the MCKAYSON New Zealand Women’s Open.
The NZ$1.85 million event will be staged at the new Windross Farm golf course in Auckland that will host the first LPGA tournament in New Zealand from 28 September to 1 October.
Creamer is a 12-time winner who has amassed more than $NZ16 million in prizemoney as well as considerable sponsorship endorsements as one of the most recognisable figures in women’s golf.
Kang, 24, won her first major with victory in the KPMG PGA Championship just last month, pushing her into the top-20 in the world on the Rolex World Rankings.
The pair played strongly for the USA at the Solheim Cup, both completing three wins from four matches.
Creamer, who came into the team as an alternate, has played in every Solheim Cup since 2005 and her 19.5 points is second overall in USA history, while Kang was selected for the anchor role in singles in her rookie selection.
The 31 year old Creamer joined the LPGA as a teenager, winning in her first year to become the youngest winner of a multiple-round tournament, which stood until 2011. She claimed her Major at the US Women’s Open in 2010 with her last win coming at the HSBC Women’s Champions in 2014.
Along the way Creamer has become one of golf’s most recognisable figures, noted for her pink outfits, her high profile with endorsements and with the considerable charitable work for the likes of The First Tee.
Kang had a stellar amateur career, winning the US Amateur in 2010 and 2011 and was the low amateur at the British Open in 2011.
She played with New Zealand’s Liv Cheng while at Pepperdine University in Los Angeles and gained full playing rights on the LPGA in 2013. Her breakthrough victory came this year in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship when she beat Canada’s Brooke Henderson by a shot.
“These two Americans are both among the most popular and celebrated players on the LPGA Tour,” said MCKAYSON New Zealand Women’s Open tournament director, Michael Goldstein.
“Paula is one of the superstars of women’s golf and it is wonderful that she is coming to New Zealand. As well as being a golfer of the highest level, she is such a respected figure in the sport and her influence for our tournament and our country going forward will be significant.
“Danielle is one of the exciting new wave of young players on the LPGA who is on top of her game after winning the PGA Championship a few weeks ago.
“She is yet another major winner to come to New Zealand for this event. Our field is without precedence for a golf tournament in this country, and Danielle is one of the most exciting of these.”
The field for the MCKAYSON New Zealand Women’s Open will be finalised this week.
Hospitality packages for the MCKAYSON New Zealand Women’s Open are available. A limited number of four-day season passes are available at $99 plus booking fee. Single day passes are available at $39 for Thursday and Friday and $49 per day for Saturday and Sunday – both plus booking fee. All children 16 years and under are free when accompanied by a paying adult.
