After Suffering Neck Injury Woes, Will Nelly Korda Play 2024 TOTO Japan Classic?

As the season nears its end, fans are wondering when they’ll see World No. 1 Nelly Korda back in action. The last time she graced the course was at the Kroger Queen City Championship in September, where she secured a solid T5 finish. Shortly after, the 26-year-old shared videos on Instagram, showcasing her practiced swing for the upcoming Maybank Championship, leaving fans excited for her return.

However, fate had other plans. Just as excitement was building, Korda announced her withdrawal from the LPGA events in Korea and Malaysia due to a minor neck injury. With the Maybank Championship now in the rearview mirror, the biggerquestion remains: will Korda return to the tournament scene before the season wraps up?

The next big event on the horizon is the TOTO Japan Classic, taking place from October 31 to November 3, 2024, in Otsu-shi, Shiga, Japan. This tournament will feature prominent names in women’s golf, including Ayaka Furue, Haeran Ryu, and Jin Young Ko, yet Korda’s name remainsabsent from the list yet again.

It seems she might still need some extra time to rest and fully recover from her neck injury. Therefore, her comeback clock keeps ticking. Until then, the lingering question of ‘when’ hangs in the air.

Since announcing her withdrawal from the Maybank Championship, Nelly Korda has been keeping a low profile, and we haven’t received any direct updates from her. However, we did get a glimpse into her life through her sister, Jessica Korda. Like Nelly, Jessica has been on a break from the sport because of a back injury. Another reason for her hiatus was how she welcomed someone special in February 2024.

It has been 17 months since Jessica last competed in a professional tournament. Now that she’s ready to return to the course, she’s enlisted Nelly’s help. Jessica shared a heartwarming video on Instagram, stating, “Haven’t hit balls since May 2023. So an emergency FaceTime with Nelly Korda to talk fundamentals and 💥 boom 💥 mom’s still got it.”

While Nelly is taking a step back from competing, she hasn’t completely stepped away from golf. By supporting Jessica to get back into the swing of things, she stays connected to the sport. And with some exciting LPGA tournaments still on the horizon, like the Lotte Championship, The Annika Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, and the CME Group Tour Championship, we’re all hoping to see Nelly back on the course soon.

Fans keep their fingers crossed that the next update will be about Nelly Korda’s return. If she doesn’t make it to Japan, the CME Group Tour Championship in early December could be a perfect target, giving her ample time to rest and recover. What do you think? Will we see her make a comeback before the season wraps up? Let us know in the comments!