Pettersen, Creamer clash in California

Oct 9, 2008 - 10:05 AM DANVILLE, California (Ticker) - Suzann Pettersen will be looking to defend her title while Paula Creamer shoots for her second win in as many weeks at the Longs Drugs Challenge.

The $1.2 million event begins Thursday at Blackhawk Country Club and boasts a field that features seven of the top 10 players on the LPGA money list.

Last season, Pettersen held off Lorena Ochoa in a two-hole sudden-death playoff. It was the third of her five wins in 2007, but this season Pettersen has yet to pick up a victory and is looking forward to returning to a place where she has enjoyed past success.

"It's great to be back, I have great memories from here," Pettersen said. "I went out and played the back nine earlier today and I remember every single putt and every break and everything.

"Hopefully I can get off to a good start and kind of be there on Sunday under again. It's such a great place. Just being in California now for almost two weeks with the Samsung last week and just being able to come over here and play here is just great."

Creamer is also looking for a repeat performance, but from a week ago rather than a year. She picked up her fourth win of the season on Sunday at the Samsung World Championship.

It was the eighth victory of her career, but Creamer already has her sights set on number nine.

"That's the beauty about golf," Creamer said. "There's always another week right afterwards. I've always wanted to do back-to-back wins, and hopefully I can do that this week. ... As long as I give myself a chance to win on Sunday, that's all I can ask for."

For Pettersen or Creamer to achieve their goal of victory, they will likely have to contend with Ochoa, who has eight wins this season, including two weeks ago at the Navistar Classic.

First prize is $180,000.