Creamer crushed by Matthew, falls for first time

• By Jay Coffin
• Sep 25, 2011 10:44 AM ET

DUNSANY, Ireland – Paula Creamer stormed her way around Killeen Castle the first two days with a perfect record and was the brightest star for the U.S. Then she met Catriona Matthew.

For the second consecutive Solheim Cup, Creamer was sent out first in Sunday singles. Two years ago, she defeated Suzann Pettersen and it helped set the tone for the day, which ended in favor of the U.S.

This year was a different story.

Matthew won four of the first seven holes and cruised to a 6-and-5 victory. Creamer played all five matches and looked tired as she repeatedly missed greens. She was 7 over par in 12 holes.

"It's one match," Creamer said. "I've played really well this whole Solheim Cup. It's unfortunate this is singles day, but I was in some winning matches these last couple of days, and that's all I can really do. It's just not my day."

It was Creamer's first loss of the week (3-1-1) and it's the first time she's lost a Solheim Cup singles match in four appearances. Matthew ended the week with a 2-0-2 record and is now 5-1 overall in singles.

"The whole day I was trying to take my chances and not let her get a sniff of a comeback or else she's very tough," Matthew said. "I know she'd be out there trying her hardest."