Jessica Korda, elder sister of World No. 1 Women’s golfer Nelly Korda, is taking time off from golf to focus on motherhood and rehabilitation. The 31-year-old golfer has been dealing with a back injury since 2022, which she exacerbated by playing through the pain. After taking a hiatus, Korda recently revealed on Instagram that she’s currently rehabbing her back and plans to start hitting balls once she regains most of her rotation. But how is her recovery going?

For now, there’s no definitive timeline for her return to competition. Something that she voiced in May last year, writing, “At the advice of my medical team, I have made the tough decision to stop playing until I can get my back fully healthy. At this point, we don’t have a firm timeline for my return but I’m working with the best of the best and am focused on coming back as soon as possible.”

The Florida native managed to make only 6 starts last year, as her season was largely marred by withdrawals. In February, she withdrew from Honda LPGA Thailand. And then, she withdrew from the Cognizant Founder’s Cup at the beginning of May. And eventually, she chose to indefinitely withdraw from the LPGA Tour.

Now that she is fully dedicated to her recovery, she often faces distraction in the form of her 5-month-old baby. Despite this, she remains connected to golf, attending clinics and putting occasionally. Additionally, the LPGA’s maternity policy allows Korda ample time to recover and care for her child. In a recent podcast appearance, Korda expressed no rush on her return, citing her child’s upbringing as her primary focus.

Recently, the former golfer shared an Instagram story on what kind of hiccups she is facing during her time off the greens. She was seen breastfeeding her son on a golf cart while smiling at the camera. “Reality– Hit 20 balls and then was needed,” read the caption on her story, so it’s safe to say that the parenting things are really getting to her, but as far as the fans’ worries go, Korda absolutely loves being a mom.

But, again, it’s undeniable that the mom duties have taken up so much space in her life. However, does that mean the golfer is not keeping herself active? No, not at all because the case is quite the opposite. But how come she is not worried about her status on the LPGA Tour with all the time she is not playing?

Jessica Korda has LPGA guidelines on her back

According to LPGA guidelines, golfers on maternity leave are exempt from losing their Tour status, allowing them to take up to two years to return after giving birth. This policy provides Jessica Korda, a six-time LPGA winner, ample time to recover and care for her son, Greyson, born in February this year. As a result, Korda has until February 2026 to make her comeback. The generous maternity leave policy alleviates pressure on Korda, enabling her to focus on motherhood and rehabilitation from her lingering back injury.

With no urgency to rush back, she can prioritize Greyson’s upbringing and her own physical well-being. Although it’s likely Korda will return to competition before the February 2026 deadline, perhaps as early as next year, time is undoubtedly on her side. The question remains: how effectively will she utilize this period to regain her form and competitive edge? Only time will tell, but for now, Korda can balance family and golf without the burden of an imminent return.