Reunion, FL (AHN) - The 'Nancy Lopez Comeback Tour' is officially under way after Thursday's opening round at the Ginn Open.

Though the Hall of Famer, who has 48 wins in her career, shot a dismal 11-over par in her opening round, the good news for Lopez and her fans is that she shot an even par through nine hole before collapsing on the back nine with three double-bogeys and five bogeys and should only get better with each passing round and tournament.

Lopez, now 50-years-old, is planning on coming all the way back and has plans on reaching the top 10 before she's through.

"I would love to finish in the top 10 quickly," Lopez said. "Hopefully that will happen."

Lopez, who won her last tournament in 1997 at the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship, has dropped nearly 40 pounds over the past year and says she truly believes she's ready to compete with the best the world has to offer.

"It's exciting watching the LPGA and the young players and seeing if I can do it just one more time, at least for a little bit and see what my body tells me, because that's really the toughest part, bad feet and bad knees," Lopez said. "That's why I'm trying to get back into physical condition. I still have a ways to go."

Lopez will certainly have her work cut out for her as she reaches for the brass ring one more time.

Lopez has finished in the top 10 exactly once in the last 72 official LPGA events she has played in and has picked one of the tour's toughest tournaments to begin her comeback bid.

According to many of the players competing in this week's event, the 6,505-yard course at the Reunion Resort is playing longer and tougher this year.

Defending champion Mi Hyun Kim of South Korea said the course "feels like a little bit of a major tournament."

Although this week's stories about Lorena Ochoa possibly taking over the number one spot in the world from an injured Annika Sorenstam have dominated the headlines, Lopez's return has every player on the tour excited about playing alongside the legendary Hall of Famer.

"I certainly look up to her," said 18-year-old Morgan Pressel, the youngest winner of a major in LPGA history. "She's a wonderful competitor and a great player and a great person, and I think that's characteristic of Nancy Lopez. And the way she interacted with the fans and the media and everything, along with her golf game, are things that I try to emulate every day."

Lopez said that although many of the players currently playing on the tour are nearly half her age, her desire to compete - and be around lifelong friends, drove her back to the sport she has grown to love dearly.

"I think it's fun I'm playing with some of my peers and the older players on tour, even though Pat's not old and Meg's not old," Lopez said. "Everybody's young to me right now."