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- Korda said the blood clot in her arm was discovered after she began to 鈥渇eel funny鈥� in February
- After her lengthy layoff, Korda has a packed schedule on the horizon, with this week鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Open followed by the Meijer LPGA Classic and the KPMG Women鈥檚 PGA Championship, where she is the defending champion
WASHINGTON: World No. 2 Nelly Korda says she will be looking no further than the first tee at the US Women鈥檚 Open on Thursday as she returns for her first tournament in four months following a blood clot scare.
The 23-year-old reigning Olympic champion put her season on hold in February after the discovery of a clot in her left arm.
Korda enjoyed a dazzling 2021 that saw her climb to world No. 1 as she netted four LPGA titles 鈥� including her maiden major 鈥� as well an Olympic gold medal.
But while the American says she is now 100 percent fit after completing post-surgery rehab, she has reduced expectations of what this week鈥檚 major at Pine Needles Golf Club in North Carolina may bring.
鈥淭o tee up and hit my first tee shot on Thursday 鈥� that is as far as I鈥檓 looking right now,鈥� Korda replied on Tuesday when asked what her goals for the week were.
鈥淚鈥檝e been out of competition since early February. I鈥檓 honestly just grateful to be out here playing. I鈥檓 going to take it one step at a time. I鈥檓 not expecting too much. The girls are already in the midst of their seasons and have a bunch of rounds under their belts.鈥�
After her lengthy layoff, Korda has a packed schedule on the horizon, with this week鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Open followed by the Meijer LPGA Classic and the KPMG Women鈥檚 PGA Championship, where she is the defending champion.
鈥淚 have a few big events coming up,鈥� Korda said. 鈥淚鈥檓 trying not to think about it too much. I鈥檓 just grateful to be back out here.鈥�
Korda said the blood clot in her arm was discovered after she began to 鈥渇eel funny鈥� in February.
鈥淚 just felt funny so I called my family doctor and he advised me to go to the ER (emergency room),鈥� she said.
鈥淚 went to the ER, found out I had a blood clot and went home and searched for a specialist, then obviously had my procedure.鈥�
Lengthy rehab in California with her coach followed.
鈥淎 lot of shoulder and back exercises,鈥� Korda said. 鈥淚 just made sure I was ready and 100 percent going into my comeback.
鈥淚 wanted to make sure I wasn鈥檛 going to have any issues,鈥� added Korda, who will play with a compression sleeve on her left arm this week.
Watching the LPGA Tour from afar was a frustrating experience, Korda added, notably the final Chevron Championship held at Rancho Mirage before the tournament moves to Texas in 2023.
鈥淭hat one hurt a lot because it was the last time there,鈥� Korda said.
鈥淵eah, I鈥檝e missed it so much. As I got closer to this week I started hitting it a little harder and longer.
鈥淭he juices started flowing again. I鈥檝e missed everyone, I鈥檓 so happy and grateful to be back out here again.鈥�
Returning this week has given Korda a renewed sense of appreciation for her craft.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like when you鈥檙e sick and your nose is stuffy you are so grateful to be able to breathe properly again,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 feel it鈥檚 kind of the same way. When it鈥檚 taken away from you, you kind of sit back and realize what an amazing sport golf is. I missed it.鈥�
This week鈥檚 tournament meanwhile sees last year鈥檚 US Women鈥檚 Open winner Yuka Saso adjusting to her status as defending champion.
The Philippine-born Japanese professional admitted on Tuesday she was uncertain as to whether she felt pressure as champion.
鈥淚 just want to enjoy and have fun you know,鈥� Saso said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if I鈥檓 nervous or not.鈥�