Jessica Korda has her sights set on a comeback to professional golf in 2026, nearly three years after stepping away from the LPGA Tour.
The 31-year-old pro hasn’t played competitively since May 2023, when a back injury forced her to take a break. That pause turned into something even more meaningful when she announced she was expecting her first child.
Her son Greyson arrived on February 3rd this year, changing everything.
“I’m definitely itching to play again,” Korda said during Golf Channel’s coverage of the Grant Thornton Invitational on Friday. But she’s taking it slow. “How much, I’m not so sure. I’ll take 2025 to assess and then per our maternity, 2026 is kind of what we’re shooting for.”
The LPGA’s family-friendly policies give new moms up to two years from their child’s birth before they need to return to competition.
While she’s been away from tournament golf for 18 months, Korda hasn’t disappeared from the sport entirely. She’s tried her hand at TV work and serves as an ambassador for Grant Thornton.
She recently gave fans a glimpse of her game, posting some swing videos on social media. But getting back into golf shape isn’t easy.
“Definitely sore,” she admitted from Naples, Florida. “It’s been a year and some months that I didn’t hit any golf balls at all. It’s tough – my shoulder hurt, my forearm, my wrist, my glute muscles that I hadn’t activated in that way in such a long time.”
Golf talent runs in the family. Her younger sister Nelly has dominated the LPGA Tour this year with seven wins and the world No. 1 ranking. But even with all that success, Nelly says being an aunt to little Greyson has been her year’s highlight.
For Jessica, motherhood has brought its own kind of victories.
“For me, it’s my son’s milestones that get me excited right now,” she said. “It’s a grind, so I feel like the patience is always being tested just like it would be out on the golf course, being a mom. The one thing I don’t do as well is my recovery… I love to sleep and that’s nonexistent.”
The six-time LPGA winner’s return will be closely watched by golf fans, but for now, she’s focused on mastering an even tougher challenge – being a new mom.
