Gerina Piller is in, Paula Creamer is out.
Piller announced on Wednesday that she has committed to play in the Diamond Resorts Invitational, Jan. 12-14 at Four Seasons Resort Orlando. Piller is pregnant. Piller and her husband, PGA Tour pro Martin Piller, are expecting their first child on May 3, with this event her only planned tournament start this year.
Creamer announced Wednesday that she is withdrawing from the Diamond Resorts event to give her surgically repaired wrist more time to heal.
“My first event in 2018 is unknown at this time,” Creamer wrote in an Instagram post on Wednesday. “I am so excited to get back on the course and am looking forward to competing pain free for the first time in several years.”
Creamer underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament and tendon damage in her left wrist on Oct. 20.
Piller, 32, says she plans to return to the LPGA after her child’s birth but isn’t sure exactly when that will be.
“I’m feeling good and I want to stay sharp, so I’m looking forward to teeing it up against the men, both pros and celebrities,” Piller said in a release. “The unique format of the Diamond Resorts Invitational makes it special, and it’s important that the LPGA is a key component.”
The Diamond Resorts Invitational will be played at Tranquilo Golf Club and feature 28 PGA Tour Champions players, four LPGA pros and celebrity players in a modified Stableford scoring format. The LPGA and Champions Tour pros will compete for a $750,000 purse with celebrities competing for $500,000. LPGA pros Brittany Lincicome, Brooke Henderson and Brittany Lang will join Piller in the field.
The Florida Hospital for Children is the main charity beneficiary.
