Jessica Korda Is Back and She's Playing with Her Best Friend (Who Happens to Be a Guy)
Two years off, one toddler at home, and zero apologies for taking her time.
The headline: Jessica Korda is teeing it up this week at the Grant Thornton Invitational in Naples, and it's her first competitive round in over two years. Yes, two years. The six-time LPGA winner stepped away in 2023, had a baby, became a full-time mom, and is now back—kind of.
The partnership: Jess is playing alongside Bud Cauley, and before you ask: yes, they're actually close friends. Like, real friends. Not just "we met at a pro-am once" friends. Jess literally asked him to play four months ago because she knew this event would be fun and low-pressure. (Smart move, honestly.)
The comeback story: Korda hasn't played competitively since 2023. She dealt with injuries, got pregnant, and welcomed her son Greyson in February 2024. (He's about to turn two, which means she's been chasing a toddler while trying to remember how to hit a golf ball under pressure. Respect.)
Jess has been documenting her return-to-golf journey on social media, and if you've been following along, you know it's been real. Think: practicing when you can, squeezing in range sessions between nap schedules, and accepting that "playing shape" looks different when you're also a mom.
What she's saying about coming back:
Jess made it clear in her pre-tournament presser that this isn't a full-time return. If she does come back to the LPGA Tour, it wouldn't be until mid-March at the earliest - and even then, it wouldn't be every week. For now, she's just happy to be out here doing what she loves again.
"I can't make a tournament out at home because we'll never get those competitive juices," Korda said. "Playing with the guys definitely makes me a little bit nervous, which is fun... It's a little bit of a break from being a mom and wiping butts."
(See? She gets it.)
The bottom line: Jessica Korda is back, she's doing it on her own terms, and she's paired with someone who genuinely has her back. Whether this is a one-off or the start of a gradual return to the LPGA Tour, we're just happy to see her out there again.
Also, can we talk about how refreshing it is to watch someone navigate motherhood and professional golf without pretending it's easy? Because it's not. And Jess isn't pretending.
Welcome back, Jess. We missed you.
Are you Team Comeback or Team "She should take all the time she needs"? (Trick question—both are correct.) Hit reply and let us know.
