Where has golfer Paula Creamer been? Parenting, Pilates and plotting a comeback on the course.

For over two decades, Paula Creamer has been a mainstay of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, earning 10 titles, including one major championship during her career thus far. But at 38 years old, she’s taken some time away from the tee. “I haven’t hit a ball since last May,” she says. It’s not because she’s done with the sport, however. In fact, she tells me during a conversation for Yahoo Life’s OT Diaries that she’s determined to come back stronger than ever.

After multiple injuries to her left wrist, Creamer attempted to return to competing and quickly realized she wasn’t feeling as strong as she’d like to. She took a medical leave, which has left fans questioning when or if she’ll return. “Now I’m getting back into the swing of things, literally. So I’m hoping to get back out by the end of this year,” she says, “If not, for sure next year.”

So what has she been doing during this time? Creamer shares she’s been balancing recovery with parenting her 3-year-old daughter, Hilton, and learning to become a master on the grill. But she’s also been working on gaining more muscle, more patience and more power for when she returns to golf.

“When I play, I just don’t want to be out there. I’m trying to compete; I’m trying to win,” she says. “I’m not just trying to be a name on a leaderboard.” Here, she shares how her competitive nature has kept her anything but idle during her time off.

How has your focus on recovery evolved over the years?

I mean, this is my 20th year. You don’t play for 20 years if you don’t really figure out your body. I’ve been very lucky [because] like I said, my injuries have only been in my left hand. However, they’ve been in my left hand, which is not the easiest place for golf. I’ve never had back [injuries], I’ve never had neck [injuries]. But I’ve worked out and trained since I was 14, so my body is obviously very aware of things. I’m very aware of what hurts and what doesn’t.

Injuries — they’re just not fun, especially when your body’s your job, basically. I’ve had [a few] major surgeries on my thumb, my wrist, and then obviously having a child is the biggest one. But I will say I’ve actually learned a lot through all of that that you cannot come back too soon. When I was younger, I think I came back a little too soon after my wrist surgery that I had in 2017. I should have taken more time off. … Even with having Hilton, I had a C-section, and I was still back out in five or six months after I was done going through that recovery.

You feel like you’re missing out on so many things when you’re hurt; it overpowers things. You don’t realize that this is just a small little blip in 20 years of your career that you’re going to have. … Professional athletes now understand more about recovery and how sleep and nutrition and all of that are so important.

What does physical recovery look like for you right now?

I have a lot of inflammation and scar tissue swelling in my hand. … So I’m realizing what I need to do for that is [physical] therapy four or five times a week. Things like that take time. They’re one of those annoying things that you have to do. That’s just what I’ve been given, and I have to overcome that.

At the same time, I also think that mentally escaping is a part of recovery.

Yes, definitely! Is that mental aspect something you’ve been able to master?

It’s really hard if you don’t have other hobbies or interests outside of your sport. When I was younger, I did a really good job of [prioritizing other interests]. It was my second or third year out on tour when I realized, we go to these amazing countries — I want to see culture. I do not just want to see the hotel and the golf course. I want to go and visit and be there. So I made that a priority.

I mean, [golf] is such a long sport. You practice before you warm up, then you play for four and a half [to] five hours, and then you practice again afterward. So there’s certain tricks I think when you’re out in the course that help you escape from it.

And when you’re at home?

It’s hard because I am the most competitive person. So it could just be about who made peanut butter cookies better? [It’s] that competitive nature that you just have inside of you — how do you switch that off? I don’t know. ‘Cause it’s just not natural for me to do that.

I will say that being able to get away from the golf course is easier for me now. I’ve been reading more, doing different workouts, things like that, to try to get that escape too. Podcasts and things like that really help take your patience and all of your focus away from [the game]. But that’s just trial and error. Whatever other athletes have done, I try it and see if it works.

How are you getting exercise off of the course?

I do a lot of Pilates now. And where I go is hot Pilates, so it’s hot in there with the red light therapy at the same time. It’s such a challenge, and I like things like that … you know, where I’m not just trying to make sure my obliques are strong for my golf swing.

Are there wellness treatments that fall into that category for you?

I’ve never been a cold plunge girl. I hate being cold in general … so that’s a nonstarter. I mean, I’ve done it a couple of times, and I’m like, this is just not for me.

You’re into more of the heated treatments, it seems.

Yeah, the whole infrared [sauna], red light therapy thing is massive. Where I train at New Dimensions [a wellness club in Orlando], they have a hyperbaric chamber. So I’m either getting in that or the sauna.

It’s kind of a weird thing, but it takes a lot for me to actually sweat. So I have to really work hard, wear long sleeves, things like that. … So saunas are really good for me.

What goals do you have for yourself when recovering and preparing for the next tour?

I definitely want to be stronger and better, more fit. Mobility is obviously also a thing, but this past offseason that I had I gained about 15 pounds of muscle, I was working out a whole lot. Now it’s a little harder for me to do all of that. So I’ve lost some of that mass, and I’m going to try and put all of that back on.

My whole thing has been trying to gain club head speed. I’m tall. I’m 5’9 [and] I’ve got long arms, so I should be able to hit it a lot farther than what I do. So trying to use different muscles in that. Just [being] more athletic, instead of kind of stagnant strong; more explosive. I mean, that’s just the way the game is going, and if you don’t go that way, you’re going to get left behind.

What is your approach to nutrition right now?

I was actually gluten and dairy free for about seven years. Then I redid all my [allergy] tests and things, and I was able to reintroduce it. So now I’m back on gluten and dairy. It’s all about knowing what works for you. So I’ve actually really tried to go on more of a keto [diet], like big on protein. I still eat carbs and things like that, but I try to get more protein in.

Having a little girl and trying to figure out what she should eat at day care is the hardest thing in the world, ‘cause they’re so picky with things. But trying to find good, healthy snacks for her has actually crept into more of my diet at home too and what I cook.

What about sleep?

Sleep has always been a really hard thing for me. I’ve never been a very good sleeper. I’ve actually been listening to this podcast about sleeping and how the whole eight hours a night is really just not … that’s not true [for everyone].

For me, I am so easy at falling asleep. I just can’t stay asleep. That’s where I struggle.

I mean, I wake up at 3 and then I’m ready to go, I’m wide awake. … I try to lay there and I try to count numbers, all these things. I put on little meditations. Those help, but then I wake up two hours later.

Now having a daughter, it’s even worse ‘cause we’re trying to get her to sleep in her own big-girl bed. I thought potty training was hard, but man, this is hard. It is definitely a challenge.

How has motherhood changed your perspective on golf?

My job is out on the course, but my real job is when I get off the golf course and [have to] be a mom. So being able to mentally escape for 15 minutes after the round is going to be another thing that I really want to master in a sense, so I can balance the two. I realized that last year when I was playing with [Hilton] and out on the road, it’s not easy. That’s just being a mom … and learning to adapt to it and adapt quickly is what I really am trying to do.

That whole competitiveness is always there. And now with her, it’s even more so because I’m like, “Hey, I’ve got to show you what I can do,” ‘cause there’s gonna be a day where I can’t do it. … You want to do it in the present and show that your mommy can do some stuff — not just get you your lunch and things like that; she can actually kind of hit a golf ball around sometimes.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received as an athlete?

I would really say being honest about all of your goals that you want to achieve with your team around you. I mean, it’s hard to find these days where there’s just one person playing. Everybody has a team; [even if it’s] their family members, there’s always a group. And I think being really honest with them and telling them what you want to do, how you want to do it, and hey, if you need to tell me that I’m doing something wrong, go for it. You have to have that trust among each other where you’re not going to be mad at them for saying, “Hey, I don’t think you’re doing the right thing.” I think that’s a big one. … It’s obviously a lot of sacrifice. You know, I didn’t live a normal life, but my life was normal to me, and I was OK with that.

A good support system is everything! Let’s get into some rapid-fire questions.

What is your best travel hack?

I am the worst at traveling. I am the worst packer ever. … I think that literally the best thing someone ever taught me was to put stuff in Hilton’s stroller bag or her car seat.

Favorite travel or plane snack?

I would say peanut butter crackers. I always have peanut butter crackers with me. Water and an electrolyte of some sort in a pouch too.

Sweet or salty?

In all honesty, I’m a salt person. I could eat chips for days. Like, I could just eat popcorn, chips, all those things. But if I am going onto the sweet side, I’m a Starburst or Skittles girl.

If you’re sticking to one beverage, what is it?

Alcoholic or nonalcoholic? … I love my wine, but I love sparkling water.

Do you have any particular artist, song or album that you listen to to lock in?

My [taste in] music is ridiculous, like it’s all over the place. I’m really into dance music. I like pop, but I also like Rüfüs [Du Sol] — anywhere from that to Lady Gaga to Kevin Gates, things like that that are just completely off the wall.

Binge-worthy TV show?

Landman was my last real binge. I really like Suits. I like Billions — those are always ones I can go back to.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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