BELLEAIR, Fla. – Nelly Korda had by no means suffered from a migraine in her life till she bought to the 2024 Solheim Cup. The one time she felt reduction early that week in Virginia was to sleep in a darkish room.
“I simply wasn’t positive what was type of occurring,” stated Korda. “I by no means thought it may have been an damage. I simply thought perhaps with every part, all of the stress that I went by throughout the yr, that like my physique was type of in overdrive in a way.”
A number of weeks later, as she was prepping in California along with her coach Jamie Mulligan earlier than heading to South Korea, she suffered what she referred to as a minor neck damage.
“Generally your physique offers you indicators, proper?” she stated of the complications. “It’s sensible. I must take heed to it a bit bit extra.”
Nelly Korda of the US performs her shot from the second tee throughout the first spherical of The ANNIKA pushed by Gainbridge at Pelican 2024 at Pelican Golf Membership on November 14, 2024, in Belleair, Florida. (Photograph by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Photos)
Korda, who teed it up in Wednesday’s pro-am with WNBA celebrity Caitlin Clark, stated she might need “rushed” her rehab to get again in time for this week’s occasion. A two-time winner of The Annika pushed by Gainbridge, it was essential for her to get again contained in the ropes at Pelican Golf Membership and play in entrance of considerably of a house crowd.
Korda opened with a 4-under 66, chipping in for birdie on the 18th to sit down two strokes again of leaders Charley Hull and Jiwon Jeon.
The 2024 Rolex Participant of the 12 months, a six-time winner this season, wasn’t positive what to anticipate her first week again after a two-month break. Thursday marked her first time strolling 18 holes since mid-September in Cincinnati. A physician cleared her to observe on Oct. 28.
“Every time I’m going by these items, I’m simply type of grateful to be out right here enjoying,” stated Korda. “Didn’t actually know what to anticipate. Was positively a bit nervous on the primary couple holes, simply not figuring out what to anticipate of my recreation as a result of I’ve not been enjoying an excessive amount of.”
Throughout her time away from the sport, Korda took half in a photoshoot for Sports activities Illustrated’s 2025 Swimsuit Situation. Korda stated the invitation took place two months in the past and it match into her authentic schedule getting back from Asia.
“MJ Day, the editor, she was so superb,” stated Korda. “The entire crew was so superb. I used to be very shy at first. I’m not used to doing something like that; so outdoors my consolation zone.
“I feel that’s what’s nice about these alternatives is that you just do get to step outdoors your consolation zone and do one thing totally different. I used to be simply actually excited for the chance to do that. I imply, it was so cool. The entire crew was superb. By the top of day, I used to be having a lot enjoyable with them.”
