Creamer, 34, captured the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club, defeating Na Yeon Choi and Suzanne Pettersen by four strokes. Creamer, who grew up in Pleasanton, Calif., less than 50 miles from The Olympic Club, has five top-10 and 11 top-20 finishes in her 17 career US Women’s Open appearances. She is a two-time semifinalist in the US Girls’ Junior and US Women’s Amateur and played on the victorious 2004 USA Curtis Cup Team. Creamer’s special exemption brings the total number to 12 US Women’s Open champions in the field this year at Olympic.

“As a US Open champion, I’m honoured to accept this special exemption into the 2021 US Women’s Open at The Olympic Club,” said Creamer. “Growing up in Northern California, one of my fondest golf memories was attending the 1998 US Open at The Olympic Club with my father, which truly sparked my love for USGA championships and the complete test they present to the players. To this day, winning the US Open is the proudest achievement of my career.”

A 10-time winner on the LPGA Tour and seven-time Solheim Cup participant, Creamer’s 2010 US Women’s Open win is remembered for her gritty comeback from ligament tears in her left thumb that sidelined her four months leading into the championship. In only her fourth start after returning from surgery, Creamer conquered Oakmont Country Club, joining Patty Sheehan as the only US Women’s Open champions at the iconic Western Pennsylvania venue.

“As a US Open champion, I’m honoured to accept this special exemption into the 2021 US Women’s Open at The Olympic Club." – Paula Creamer

Two-time champion Karrie Webb of Australia was the last player to receive a special exemption into the championship, accepting one in both 2018 and 2019. The two most recent special exemptions before Webb were given to 1998 US Women’s Open champion Se Ri Pak in 2016 at CordeValle in San Martin, Calif., and two-time champion Juli Inkster in 2013 at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.

The 76th US Women’s Open will be the 11th USGA championship to be played on the Lake Course at The Olympic Club, including five US Opens (1955, 1966, 1987, 1998 and 2012). The club also previously hosted the 1958, 1981 and 2007 US Amateurs, the 2004 US Junior Amateur and the inaugural US Amateur Four-Ball Championship in 2015. It will also host the 2025 US Amateur Championship.

The Lake Course was designed by course superintendent Sam Whiting and first opened for play in 1924. Improvements and updates were made by Robert Trent Jones Sr. before the 1955 US Open and by Bill Love ahead of the 2007 US Amateur and 2012 US Open. The Olympic Club is recognized as one of the first 100 golf clubs established in the United States.

Considered the world’s premier women’s golf championship, the US Women’s Open is one of 14 national championships conducted annually by the USGA. The championship began in 1946 and in addition to Creamer, Pak and Inkster its winners include Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Betsy Rawls, Mickey Wright, Hollis Stacy, Amy Alcott, Meg Mallon, Annika Sorenstam, Cristie Kerr, Inbee Park and Michelle Wie West. In December 2020, A Lim Kim birdied the final three holes at Champions Golf Club to capture the championship’s 75th edition, defeating Jin Young Ko and Amy Olson by one stroke.