Nelly Korda Ready For Comeback At The Annika Tournament

Nelly Korda, one of the top golfers on the LPGA Tour, said that she took five weeks off from tournaments to protect her health. The 27-year-old American star shared that the break helped her recover and rebuild her strength before returning to compete at The Annika by Gainbridge tournament this week. She feels healthy, refreshed, and ready to go after months of constant travel and competition.

During her time away, Korda focused on improving her physical condition, especially her neck, which had been troubling her for months. She said she decided not to play golf for nearly three weeks to allow her body to rest. Her schedule this year had been very busy, with 17 tournaments and long hours of travel, which left her body tired and sore. Korda said that she wanted to prevent serious injury by taking a short break now rather than risking a long absence later.

She explained that she has learned from her past health issues, including a blood clot in her arm in 2022 and neck injuries last year. Korda said she now listens carefully to her body and understands when to stop. She admitted that, in the past, she sometimes ignored pain or strange feelings, thinking they were minor. But now she believes it is better to rest early than to face serious health problems later.

Korda said, “I’ve learned a lot about myself and my body. If I had listened to it earlier, I could have avoided some problems. Now I know how important it is to take care of myself and not ignore small signs.”

Her last victory came at this same event, The Annika by Gainbridge, last year. She has a strong record at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, where she has won three of the past four tournaments. The course is close to her home in Bradenton, so she feels comfortable playing there, surrounded by family and friends. Korda said that being in a familiar environment gives her confidence and makes the week enjoyable.

Even though she has not won a tournament this year, Korda has played consistently well. She has finished in the top 10 seven times, including a fourth-place finish at the Lotte Championship recently. Still, she hopes to end the season with a victory and close the gap between her and Jeeno Thitikul, who currently leads the world rankings.

Korda said that she focuses only on what she can control. “I can’t control what other players do,” she said. “I can only control how I prepare, how I play, and how much effort I put in each day. My goal is to give 100% every time.”

She added that golf is unpredictable, and even the best players cannot win every time. “Some years, you win a lot; other years, you don’t. But that doesn’t mean you’re not playing well,” Korda explained. “What matters is putting in full effort and staying focused on the process.”

As she returns to competition, Korda’s main goal is to finish the season healthy and strong. She believes that staying disciplined with her training, practice, and recovery will help her perform better and avoid injuries in the future. She also said that taking time off was not just about rest but about being smart and managing her career in the long term.

Korda’s return to the LPGA Tour this week has drawn attention from fans and fellow golfers. Many expect her to be one of the top contenders at The Annika by Gainbridge. Her experience, home advantage, and renewed energy could help her end her winless run and start a fresh chapter in her successful career.

As Korda herself said, “You can’t expect to win all the time. But you can always give your best. That’s what I will do this week.”