RANCHO MIRAGE — Lorena Ochoa may not be red-hot entering this year's Kraft Nabisco Championship, but she still thinks she has the game to win this week.

“I'm doing OK. I think that's why we all practice every day, and that's what keeps me motivated,” Ochoa said as she prepared to defend her Kraft title. “I do want to win more tournaments and be out there. I think we all dream of just winning.”

Ochoa will look for her second Kraft title and third major overall starting today with the first round of the 38th annual tournament at Mission Hills Country Club. And while Ochoa has won once in four starts this year, she feels her game is coming around.

“My game is very solid, and I'm working on my putting a lot,” said Ochoa, who tied for 15th in last week's J Golf Phoenix LPGA International. “There are a few things I want to improve. I think things are getting together and I really can't wait to get to that moment, and start really putting better, and give myself more chances to dominate.”

Ochoa is one of eight past Kraft champions in the 97-player field this week, including two-time winners Juli Inkster and Karrie Webb. Webb won the Phoenix event last week and hopes the momentum will carry over.

“Winning last week was great. A lot of hard work finally put all together for four rounds in a row,” Webb said. “I've been hearing the word ‘close' a couple of years, and it was starting to wear down on me as far as hearing that I'm close but not putting the scores on the board. To play well last week, and to win, obviously that boosts my confidence for this week.”

Other intriguing players in the field include the LPGA's leading money winner this year, Jiyai Shin, and the return of 19-year-old Michelle Wie after two years away from the tournament that helped make her famous as a 13-year-old phenom.

Local players in the field include Palm Desert's Nicole Castrale, amateur Jennifer Johnson of Desert Christian High School, Liselotte Neumann, who lives at Mission Hills, and Guilia Sergas of La Quinta.

Ochoa said returning to the Kraft as champion feels no different than having returned to one of her favorite places and favorite courses in previous years.

“This is my 10th tournament and I have so many great memories and I have a great time year after year,” she said. “It's not like when you play the U.S. Open where you have to really concentrate a lot and get to know the course, the greens, see how the clubhouse is, the practice facilities.

“Here, I know where I'm going and I know where the putts break and I know how the rough is playing. It's just an easier week in that way. I love coming in here and I feel a lot of support. There are many Mexicans that are coming, too, and hopefully we'll all jump in the lake again.”

Now 27 and having won 22 LPGA event since the start of the 2006 season in her climb to No. 1 in the world rankings, Ochoa is faced this year with remaining the top player while facing changes in her personal and professional life. She is engage and will be married in December to a wealthy Mexican businessman. And she is now the undisputed No. 1 player in women's golf with the retirement at the end of last year of three-time Kraft champion and Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam.

But Ochoa said returning to the Kraft this week felt relaxed rather than stressed.

“I don't think it feels different, but I feel comfortable,” she said. “I got here on Monday and practiced early, played 18 holes and I was telling my caddie, ‘It just feels like we are practicing in our home.'”

That means Ochoa thinks she can be a contender this week as she works toward remaining the game's top player.

“My goal is to be at the top as the No. 1 player and I'm going to do whatever it takes to stay there,” she said.