Jessica Korda, a six-time champion on the LPGA Tour, has faced a series of setbacks that have significantly delayed her illustrious return to professional golf. Her incredible 11-under-60 performance at the 2021 Tournament of Champions, which made her only the fifth player in LPGA history to record such a score, now seems like a distant memory. Instead, Korda finds herself locked in a challenging battle with health issues that have sidelined her career.
Korda first stepped away from the green after withdrawing from the Cognizant Founders Cup in May 2023 due to a back injury. Shortly after, she welcomed her son, Greyson, in February 2024. With her fans anxiously awaiting her return to the course, Korda’s journey back to professional competition has been riddled with hurdles.
Recent events have further complicated Korda’s comeback. She had gotten her fans’ hopes up with a swing video showcasing her progress. However, a subsequent Instagram update revealed a different story. “9 days and still not feeling 100%,” she wrote, expressing her frustration with a persistent flu that refuses to let up. The timing of this setback is particularly unfortunate, considering the excitement stirred by her promising swing video.
In an earlier attempt to get back to golf last year, Korda sought help from her sister, Nelly Korda, to iron out issues with her swing. The “emergency FaceTime” session with Nelly proved extremely beneficial. Now, however, Korda’s comeback is being thwarted by her illness – an unforeseen obstacle in her already daunting journey back from injury, pregnancy, and a year and a half of absence from competitive golf.
Korda has been working tirelessly to regain her form, feeling the burn in muscles long unused. Yet, her name remains conspicuously absent from the rosters of upcoming tournaments. According to a December 2024 interview with the Golf Channel, she is targeting a full-fledged comeback only in 2026. Her focus for the current year is on motherhood and gradually reintegrating golf into her routine.
Her career, marked by wins globally including her first LPGA title at the 2012 Women’s Australian Open, has demonstrated her immense potential. Korda’s return would undoubtedly be a significant boost for women’s golf. Her game, characterized by formidable power off the tee and a lethal putting stroke, has allowed her to compete with the world’s best.
Korda’s eventual return could substantially alter the LPGA landscape. The prospect of her teaming up with her sister, Nelly – the duo made history as the first sisters to represent Team USA at the 2019 Solheim Cup – is an exciting one. Interestingly, many athletes have returned stronger post-pregnancy. With Korda’s experience and maturity, and the LPGA’s maternity policy keeping her tour card safe until 2026, she might overcome the challenges of her prolonged break.
However, as her current battle with flu indicates, the path to elite golf is rarely smooth. Will the Korda sisters emerge as a formidable force in women’s golf, or have Jessica’s persistent setbacks permanently altered her career trajectory? Only time will provide the answer.
