BELLEAIR, Fla. – Nelly Korda had never suffered from a migraine in her life until she got to the 2024 Solheim Cup. The only time she felt relief early that week in Virginia was to sleep in a dark room.
“I just wasn’t sure what was kind of going on,” said Korda. “I never thought it could have been an injury. I just thought maybe with everything, all the stress that I went through during the year, that like my body was kind of in overdrive in a sense.”
Several weeks later, as she was prepping in California with her coach Jamie Mulligan before heading to South Korea, she suffered what she called a minor neck injury.
“Sometimes your body gives you signs, right?” she said of the headaches. “It’s smart. I need to listen to it a little bit more.”
Nelly Korda of the United States plays her shot from the second tee during the first round of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican 2024 at Pelican Golf Club on November 14, 2024, in Belleair, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Korda, who teed it up in Wednesday’s pro-am with WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, said she might have “rushed” her rehab to get back in time for this week’s event. A two-time winner of The Annika driven by Gainbridge, it was important for her to get back inside the ropes at Pelican Golf Club and play in front of somewhat of a home crowd.
Korda opened with a 4-under 66, chipping in for birdie on the 18th to sit two strokes back of leaders Charley Hull and Jiwon Jeon.
The 2024 Rolex Player of the Year, a six-time winner this season, wasn’t sure what to expect her first week back after a two-month break. Thursday marked her first time walking 18 holes since mid-September in Cincinnati. A doctor cleared her to practice on Oct. 28.
“Whenever I go through these things, I’m just kind of grateful to be out here playing,” said Korda. “Didn’t really know what to expect. Was definitely a little nervous on the first couple holes, just not knowing what to expect of my game because I have not been playing too much.”
During her time away from the game, Korda took part in a photoshoot for Sports Illustrated’s 2025 Swimsuit Issue. Korda said the invitation came about two months ago and it fit into her original schedule coming back from Asia.
More: First look at Nelly Korda in Sports Illustrated’s 2025 Swimsuit Issue is here
“MJ Day, the editor, she was so amazing,” said Korda. “The whole crew was so amazing. I was very shy at first. I’m not used to doing anything like that; so outside my comfort zone.
“I think that’s what’s great about these opportunities is that you do get to step outside your comfort zone and do something different. I was just really excited for the opportunity to do this. I mean, it was so cool. The whole crew was amazing. By the end of day, I was having so much fun with them.”