Errant drive results in watch off Creamer's wrist

• By Ryan Ballengee
• Mar 17, 2012 1:10 PM ET

Since taking the U.S. Women's Open at Oakmont two years ago, Paula Creamer has not won on the LPGA. That could change this weekend at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup.

Trailing Yani Tseng by two heading into the weekend, Creamer is again in contention in Arizona. She finished T-2 behind Karrie Webb in the inaugural event last year.

Right now, however, Creamer is a work in progress. Last season, Creamer initiated a series of swing changes, essentially developing two different swings – one for her driver, another for irons – to gain distance off the tee.

"I'm hitting it much further off the tee when I hit it good," Creamer said Friday. "You can tell when I hit it good, it goes far. And when I miss it, I hit this kind of peeler off to the right."

Although she has no wins to show for it, the finished product is close. Creamer has been in the top 10 in 12 of her last 35 LPGA starts, including 10 times last season.

"I feel that I'm a much better player than I've been showing," she said. "I hope by the end of the year we won't be saying that anymore, but if I just keep doing what I've been doing, I know that I can get there."

The improved confidence with the changes does not come without hiccups, however. On Thursday, Creamer hit a spectator with an errant drive. According to the Wall Street Journal, Creamer gave the fan the watch off her wrist.

The gesture showed the kind of ambassador Creamer is to the tour, as well as her sponsor, watchmaker Citizen.