Photo Courtesy of Tyler Berlin
By Emily McLaughlin
Belleair, Fla. — After an eight-week break from competition, Nelly Korda returned to the course at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican with a familiar goal: competing at her best.
Although a victory at The ANNIKA would earn Korda the final point needed to qualify for the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame, the milestone isn’t driving her return.
The 2026 Rolex Player of the Year, who has won four tournaments this season, said her focus remains on the competition in front of her rather than the accolades that could follow.
“Is the Hall of Fame something I’m looking at? Not at all,” Korda said Nov. 13. “The accolades are great, I mean, I’m honored to even be in that position. I’m honored to be the player of the year, but what drives me is the competitive tournament that I am in currently.”
Following her eight-week break, Korda emphasized the importance of recognizing when it is time to step away from the sport.
“Once my body feels something, I need to take that break,” Korda said. “But at least I am giving my body the break and rest it needs to eventually not create something bigger from it.”
The decision to step away was also influenced by Korda’s previous experiences with injury. In October 2024, she suffered a neck injury during practice that forced her to miss two LPGA events. This time, she said she wanted to prioritize her physical well-being rather than risk another extended absence.
“I wanted to give my body a little bit of a break. It wasn’t feeling too great,” Korda said on Nov. 11. “Last time I put myself into that position, I ended up injuring myself and was out longer, so I would say that as I’ve gotten older I’ve learned to listen to my body.”
Korda’s return to competition has not come without challenges. She shot a 1-over-par 71 during Saturday’s third round at Pelican, navigating a difficult front nine that included a challenging fifth hole.
While following Korda through the front nine Saturday, she faced a difficult stretch on the fifth hole. After hitting her approach shot over the green, Korda attempted to chip the ball toward the hole but sent it across the putting surface. Her next putt came up short, adding to the challenges of the hole. The sequence offered a glimpse into the difficulty of returning to tournament play, even for a player coming off an award-winning season.
Despite the day’s challenges, her opportunity to qualify for the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame remains within reach. With the season nearing its conclusion, a victory at either The ANNIKA or the CME Group Tour Championship would give her the final point needed to reach the 27-point requirement needed to be within the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame.
For Korda, however, the focus remains on the competition rather than the milestone.
“It’s just really nice to be out here and get the juices kind of flowing again,” Korda said to Golf Channel. “No better place to do it than close to home.”
While the Hall of Fame remains within reach, Korda’s return has been less about chasing another accolade and more about finding her rhythm again after time away from the course.