Associated Press
Thursday, April 27

STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. -- Nancy Lopez needs gall bladder surgery, but the Hall of Famer said it can wait until after the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship, where she is the tournament host.

"I am feeling fine, and I played in the pro-am yesterday without any pain," Lopez said Thursday. "I have adjusted my diet to assist in controlling the stomach pain, and things are going well."

Lopez, 43, will schedule the surgery later. It requires little recovery time, and she does not expect it to interrupt her tournament schedule. A year ago, Lopez was forced to withdraw from the LPGA Championship because of knee surgery.

"I look forward to having this taken care of and then playing out my schedule for the season," she said.

Lopez, a winner of 48 tournaments on the LPGA Tour, last won three years ago in the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship. She was selected the official host this year.

The 54-hole tournament begins Friday at Eagles Landing Country Club.