Former world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa, who retired in 2010 to focus on her family and charity work, will make a spot start this week at the Ladies European Tour’s French Open.
The event, which begins Thursday at Chantaco Golf Club in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Aquitaine, is sponsored by Lacoste, which also sponsors Ochoa.
“They asked me to come and play the tournament,” the 30-year-old said in a release. “They actually asked me last year and I couldn’t because I was pregnant.
“I said, ‘I prefer to wait until next year,’ and here I am. I’m very happy to support the tournament.”
Ochoa, who won 27 times on the LPGA tour, including two majors, is also scheduled to play in her own Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara in November. But she maintained, as she has for two years, that she has no desire to play a full competitive schedule.
“My life is very different now, so I’ll be relaxed and try to smile out there,” she said. “If I make a mistake, I will be easy on myself.”
