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Jessica Korda is a Czech-American professional golfer who has been playing on the LPGA Tour since 2011. She is the daughter of retired tennis pros Petr Korda and Regina Rajchrtová, and the older sister of Nelly Korda, who is also a professional golfer. In May 2023, Jessica announced that she would be taking an indefinite break from golf to focus on rehabbing a back injury. Later that year, she announced her pregnancy and gave birth to her first child, a son named Greyson, in February 2024. While she has expressed interest in returning to the LPGA Tour, she has also acknowledged that her recovery has been challenging and that she is still experiencing soreness in her shoulder, forearm, wrist, and glute muscles. She is currently targeting a return to competitive golf in 2026.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Jessica Regina Korda |
| Born | 27 February 1993 |
| Profession | Czech-American professional golfer |
| Golf Tour | LPGA Tour |
| Achievements | 6-time LPGA winner |
| Maternity Leave Start | May 2023 |
| Reason for Leave | Back injury and pregnancy |
| Child's Birth | 3 February 2024 |
| Return to LPGA Tour | Targeting 2026 |
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What You'll Learn
Jessica Korda's back injury
Jessica Korda, the Czech-American professional golfer, has been out with a back injury since May 2023. She announced on social media that she would be taking an indefinite break from the LPGA Tour to focus on her rehab. The injury had been a concern at the start of the season, and she had to skip the inaugural Mizuho Americas Open event at Liberty National Golf Club on June 1.
Korda, a six-time LPGA winner, is known for her powerful swing and clean style. Her fans were excited to see her back in action after her injury, and they praised her smooth and steady swing in a video she posted on social media. Despite her injury, Korda has had a successful career, representing the Czech Republic and the United States in the World Amateur Team Championship Espirito Santo Trophy. She turned pro in 2011 and has since become one of the rising stars on the LPGA Tour.
Korda's back injury has been a persistent issue, and she has been open about her recovery process. In an interview, she shared that she didn't swing a club for over a year while focusing on her health and family. She welcomed her first child in February 2024 and is now eyeing a return to the LPGA in 2026. While she is eager to play again, she is taking her time to assess her progress and ensure a successful comeback.
Korda's injury setback was not an isolated incident, as she has also withdrawn from other tournaments due to health issues. In February 2022, she pulled out of the LPGA Drive On Championship in Fort Myers, Florida, due to a sprain in her ribs and an intercostal muscle sprain. This withdrawal came after consecutive top-20 finishes in her first two starts of the season.
Despite the challenges posed by her back injury, Korda remains a prominent figure in golf. She continues to be a topic of discussion and inspiration for fans and golfers alike. Her return to the LPGA Tour in 2026 will undoubtedly be highly anticipated.
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Her pregnancy and maternity leave
Jessica Korda is a professional golfer who has been playing on the LPGA Tour since 2011. She has achieved several victories and has been a prominent figure in women's golf. In early 2022, Korda announced some life-changing news that would impact her golfing career.
On February 27, 2022, Jessica Korda married Johnny DelPrete, her long-time partner and former golf caddy. Soon after, in June 2022, she announced that she was pregnant with their first child. This news naturally led to questions about her golfing career and whether she would continue to play at the highest level. At the time of her announcement, Korda was ranked fourth in the world, and her pregnancy news sparked conversations about the challenges female golfers face when starting a family while maintaining their careers.
Korda took a break from competitive golf during her pregnancy and embarked on a maternity leave. She made the decision to step away from the game to focus on her health and the well-being of her growing baby. This meant that she missed the entire 2022 season, including major championships and the opportunity to represent her country at the Toyota Junior World Cup. However, Korda kept her fans and the golfing world updated during her pregnancy, sharing ultrasound photos and expressing her excitement about this new chapter in her life.
During her maternity leave, Korda also used social media to stay connected with her fans and offer glimpses into her life as a soon-to-be mother. She posted photos of her growing baby bump and shared her experiences, including the challenges she faced during pregnancy. Korda also used this time to support and promote her fellow LPGA players, often posting about their achievements and victories. Her break from competitive golf allowed her to focus on her family and prepare for the birth of her child, while still staying connected to the sport and her supporters.
As Korda embraced this new phase of her life, the golfing world eagerly awaited news of her return to competition. Her pregnancy and maternity leave sparked discussions about the support and opportunities available to female golfers during and after pregnancy. Korda's break from the sport highlighted the importance of accommodating and supporting female athletes who choose to start a family while pursuing their athletic careers. Her experience contributed to a broader conversation about work-life balance and the unique challenges faced by professional athletes in individual sports.
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Her return to the LPGA Tour
Jessica Korda is a Czech-American professional golfer who has been playing on the LPGA Tour since 2011. She is the older sister of fellow golfer Nelly Korda and the daughter of retired professional tennis players Petr Korda and Regina Rajchrtová.
In May 2023, Korda announced that she would be taking an indefinite break from golf to focus on rehabbing a back injury that had been bothering her at the start of the season. Later that year, she announced her pregnancy with her first child, and in February 2024, she gave birth to a son named Greyson.
During her time away from the LPGA Tour, Korda has done some TV work and served as a Grant Thornton ambassador. She has also stayed connected to the golf world, appearing as on-air talent for ESPN+ during the 2023 CME Group Tour Championship.
Korda has expressed a desire to return to competitive golf, saying, "I'm definitely itching to be able to play again, how much, I'm not so sure." She initially targeted a return for 2025 but later pushed back her timeline, stating that she would take 2025 to assess her readiness and aim for a comeback in 2026. The LPGA's maternity policy allows mothers up to two years from the date of their child's birth before returning to competition.
As Korda prepares for her return to the LPGA Tour, she has been working on regaining her form. In an interview, she acknowledged the challenges of getting back into the game, saying, "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 guessed activated in that way for such a long time." Despite the physical setbacks, Korda is determined to get back on the course and compete again.
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Her performance in the 2023 CME Group Tour Championship
Jessica Korda is a professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. In May 2023, she announced that she would be taking an indefinite break from the game to rehab a back injury. Later that year, she also announced her pregnancy.
Despite not competing, Korda featured as on-air talent at the 2023 CME Group Tour Championship alongside Maria Fassi. The CME Group Tour Championship is a women's professional golf tournament and is the season-ending event of the LPGA Tour. ESPN+ streamed live coverage of the event, which was hosted by Will Haskett, with former Solheim Cup player Gerina Mendoza serving as an analyst.
Korda provided reports and live interviews with Chantel McCabe. This was her role at the tournament, given that she had not competed since May and was pregnant with her first child. The CME Group Tour Championship in 2023 was held at the Gold Course of the Tiburón Golf Club in Naples, Florida.
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Her career as a golfer
Jessica Korda is a Czech-American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. She was born on February 27, 1993, and is the daughter of retired professional tennis players Petr Korda and Regina Rajchrtová. Her father is a Grand Slam champion, winning the 1998 Australian Open crown.
Korda's amateur career was impressive, representing the Czech Republic and the United States in the World Amateur Team Championship Espirito Santo Trophy in 2006 and 2010, respectively. She also won the 2010 South Atlantic Amateur and made the cut at the 2008 and 2009 U.S. Women's Opens, finishing runner-up at the latter.
In 2010, at just 17 years old, Korda entered the LPGA Tour Qualifying School. Her performance in the final Qualifying Tournament earned her full membership on the Tour in 2011.
Since then, she has established herself as one of the rising stars on the LPGA Tour, with six LPGA wins under her belt. She has also made appearances as on-air talent for golf broadcasts, showcasing her knowledge and passion for the sport beyond just her playing career.
However, Korda's career has been interrupted by a back injury that sidelined her for the remainder of the 2022 LPGA season. She announced her pregnancy in 2023, taking a break from competing to focus on her health and upcoming motherhood. In February 2024, she gave birth to her first child, a son named Greyson.
Korda has expressed her desire to return to the LPGA Tour, targeting 2026 for her comeback. She acknowledged the challenges of recovering her golfing form while also embracing motherhood, stating that her son's milestones are her current priority.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Jessica Korda is currently on a break from golf. She announced in May 2023 that she would be taking an indefinite break to recover from a back injury. Later that year, she announced her pregnancy and gave birth to her son, Greyson, in February 2024. She is targeting a return to the LPGA Tour in 2026.
Jessica Korda took a break from golf primarily due to a back injury that had been a concern for her during the 2022 season. She announced on social media that the injury would sideline her for the rest of the 2022 LPGA season.
Jessica Korda gave birth to her first child, a son named Greyson, on February 3, 2024. She announced her pregnancy in 2023 via a heartwarming golf-themed Instagram post.
Jessica Korda last played on the LPGA Tour in May 2023 before taking a break due to her back injury. She has not competed in any tournaments since then and has taken on some TV work during her break.
Jessica Korda is eyeing a return to the LPGA Tour in 2026. She shared her plans during Golf Channel's coverage of the Grant Thornton Invitational in December 2024. She intends to take 2025 to assess her recovery and prepare for her comeback.
