Top-ranked Ochoa will play in '09 Farr

Lorena Ochoa won seven tournaments last summer, but skipped the '08 Farr and paid a $20,000 fine to the LPGA for violation of the tour's appearance rule that states a member must compete in each tour event at least once in a four-year period.

Lorena Ochoa, the world's No. 1-ranked women's golfer, announced her 2009 playing schedule yesterday and it includes the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic.

The Farr Classic, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in '09, will be staged July 2-5 at Highland Meadows Golf Club. It precedes the U.S. Women's Open on this year's tournament schedule and will offer a purse of $1.4 million, an increase of $100,000 from a year ago.

Defending champion Paula Creamer, currently No. 3 in the world rankings, is also a lock to be in the field.

"This is great news for the golf fans of northwest Ohio and southeastern Michigan," said Farr director Judd Silverman. "With Lorena's announcement that she will be playing in this year's tournament coupled with defending champion Paula Creamer's commitment we now have the Nos. 1 and 2 players from last year's LPGA money list. I can't think of a better way to kick off our 25th anniversary.

"Lorena's play over the last three years has been phenomenal. She has won the LPGA money title, the player of the year award and the Vare Trophy for low scoring average the past three seasons. That's an incredible accomplishment."

Ochoa won seven tournaments last summer, but skipped the '08 Farr and paid a $20,000 fine to the LPGA for violation of the tour's appearance rule that states a member must compete in each tour event at least once in a four-year period.

The Mexican golfer's only appearance, to date, in the Farr Classic resulted in a tie for sixth place in 2004.

It also was released yesterday that Ochoa, 27, is engaged to be married to 39-year-old Andres Conesa, the director general of Aeromexico Airlines. No wedding date was announced.