The Corning Classic celebrates a milestone this weekend, and that was enough to lure Rosie Jones back.

Jones, who retired two years ago when her aching neck and body could no longer withstand the rigours of the LPGA Tour, just had to be here. “It had been tugging on my sleeve a little bit,” Jones said Wednesday. “Knowing that it was their 30th anniversary, I wanted to be here.”
Jones, who had been here as a commentator for the Golf Channel since retiring, was invited by tournament officials to take part in the festivities. And she thought if she was going to return, she might as well bring her clubs.
“When I called back, I said, ‘Well, you know, if I’m coming up … what are the chances that I can play?”‘ said Jones, whose last event on tour was the 2006 U.S. Open. Turns out those chances were pretty good. Jones accepted a sponsor’s exemption and will tee off today in an afternoon group with Meg Mallon and Sherri Steinhauer.

Jones is the only back-to-back Corning winner (1996-97) and its all-time money leader by a wide margin - her US$564,630 in earnings is nearly double the total of runner-up Tammie Green. Although the tour’s top two players aren’t here - Lorena Ochoa dropped out after initially entering and Annika Sorenstam hasn’t returned since she was runner-up to Jimin Kang in 2005 after winning the previous year - this year’s field does include Paula Creamer and Jeong Jang, third and fifth on the 2008 money list. Also back are former Corning champions Hee-Won Han (2006), Kang, Laura Diaz (2002), Sherri Turner (1988), Cindy Rarick (1987), and last year’s winner, Young Kim.
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Tags: WOMEN AND GOLF //