McDonald's is launching it national smoothies campaign today with a budget "hitherto unseen by the category," Paul Ziobro reports. Without getting into details, McDonald's marketing director Sofia Therios admits the company is making a "respectable investment" in the new -- for it -- category. "Even though we aren't the first in the category, we are committed to grow the category," Therios tells Ziobro. "We're open to taking market share on the way." Other key players who might have other ideas about the latter part of that notion include Jamba Juice, Starbucks and Panera Bread. …

Paula Creamer, who won the 2010 U.S. Women's Open, is vying with Alexis Thompson, Michelle Wie, Natalie Gulbis and others to fill the lead marketing role at the Ladies Professional Golf Association following the retirements of Lorena Ochoa and Annika Sorenstam, Barry Janoff reports. Sorenstam was earning close to $12 million annually from endorsements when she retired, according to analysts, who estimate Ochoa was taking in about half that amount. Gulbis and Creamer are in the $3-$5 million range; Pak and Thompson earn about $2-$3 million each. Another option is Se Ri Pak, who won two of …