For the first time in over two and a half years, Jessica Korda is having tea time. The 32-year-old mother returns to competition this week at the Grant Thornton Invitational, an informal mixed team event not far from her home in South Florida.
“I proposed to Bud about four months ago,” Korda joked about asking longtime family friend Bud Corey to partner up with him at Tiburon Golf Club. They are one of 16 teams participating in the third annual Grant Thornton Tournament, a three-day event with a total prize pool of $4 million.
Korda, a six-time LPGA champion, was on medical leave due to a back injury before she became pregnant with her first child, Grayson. She last competed in a Tour event in May 2023, when she withdrew after the first round of the Cognizant Founders Cup.
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Korda has returned to the tour from time to time in media capacities or with sponsors. Of course, she came out to support her sister Nellie.
“I played a practice round (Tuesday) for the first time in a few years, and it was pretty good,” said Nelly, who teams up with Denny McCarthy this week. “Obviously, she’s been out a few times here and there over the years, but I’m looking forward to seeing her get her nerves back this week. It’s going to be a fun week. It’s always so nice to have family around. I hope she just enjoys it and stays light.”
more: What you need to know about the PGA Tour, LPGA’s Grant Thornton Mixed Team Event
When asked how becoming a mother has changed her perspective, Jessica said she has no intention of returning to the LPGA full-time. If she were to return in 2026, she said, it wouldn’t be until mid-March, giving her plenty of time to adjust based on what happens this week.
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“It’s much harder to manage my schedule. I’m always late for everything,” Korda said. “I’ve never been late and left two hours early like clockwork.
“Now I feel like I’m just trying to manage him and also try to prepare for me. I mean, I’m on the foam roller and he’s half on top of me, or the ball is flying into my face. It’s just a little more chaotic than before. But it’s a lot more fun than it was before. Like I said, golf is like a little escape from being a mom all day, but it makes it more fun. It makes everything more fun.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Jessica Korda says she won’t play full-time on the LPGA as a mother
