The new No. 1 is Lorena Ochoa, a 26-year-old Mexican who has been on tour only two years longer than Creamer, yet already has won 23 times, including two majors, and has enough points for the Hall of Fame.

Perhaps even more daunting is that three of the last seven majors have been won by players younger than Creamer — Park became the youngest Women’s Open champion at 19; Yani Tseng of Taiwan became the youngest winner of the McDonald’s LPGA Championship at 19; and Pressel won the Nabisco at 18.

This is no time for Creamer to panic, although this loss could leave scars.

Lewis could use Interlachen as a springboard. She is as close to anything as a defending champion this week in Arkansas, where she led with a 65 after the first round before the rest of the tournament was rained out and wiped out of the record books. At least she could keep the trophy.

And more young players are in the pipeline.

Vicky Hurst failed to qualify for the Women’s Open, which was shocking, but only a minor setback. While Park was winning the Women’s Open, the 18-year-old Hurst won her third Duramed Futures Tour event this year, even though she just graduated from high school.

She is a major talent.

But until Hurst, Creamer, Lewis or anyone else wins a major, she will be only a major prospect. Golf is loaded with those.

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