Tournament of Champions

[bangkokbobby]

Pak coming back for LPGA TOC

Two-time TOC champ scheduled to return to Magnolia Grove after two-year absence



Se Ri Pak, the back-to-back winner of The Mitchell Company LPGA Tournament of Champions in 2000-01, is coming back.

Pak, who has skipped the event the last two years, is one of the big names headlining the list of early commitments to the LPGA TOC, which is scheduled for Nov. 9-12 at Magnolia Grove's Crossings Course.

So far, 43 of the 50 players eligible for the tournament have confirmed with the tour that they plan to play in Mobile, including leading money winner Lorena Ochoa, who is coming off back-to-back victories.

Players have until Tuesday to officially commit to play in the tournament, which is open to LPGA winners from 2003-06 plus active Hall of Fame members.

"We talked to Se Ri at the Longs Drugs Challenge (another LPGA event owned by Raycom Sports) and she was excited about coming back here," said tournament director Jim Johnson. "Grace Park is another top player who didn't play here last year but is coming back and that's good news. "We're still waiting to hear from six out of those remaining seven. We've been in contact with some of them and we're hopeful that they're going to play."

Annika Sorenstam, as previously announced, is skipping the tournament again, opting to play in Greg Norman's Merrill Lynch Shootout with Fred Couples as her partner.

The next biggest name yet to commit is Karrie Webb, who finished second here in 1999 and won in 2000.

The others who have not committed so far are Rosie Jones, Betsy King, Nicole Perrot, Catriona Matthew and Jung Yeon Lee.

Jones retired this year and is working for The Golf Channel, which will televise the TOC. Some have speculated she may play since she's exempt and will already be here with her current employer.

[dangerbob]

Go Se Ri Go!!!