Health is wealth. But sometimes it might become a hurdle in one’s life’s material bliss, and Ashleigh Buhai would agree. After all, an injury-related hurdle has impeded this LPGA and LET Tour star from participating in the season’s fourth major, the Amundi Evian Championship. This means that Buhai would be unable to claim a portion of the $8 million prize.

But it’s not just Buhai’s material wealth that is bound to suffer, it’s also a chance to expand her legacy. Her absence also means that a second major win is still far off. The news of her withdrawal came during the first round of the major held at the Evian Resort Golf Club.

But what was the health issue that forced her to sit this one out? Well, tracing her history of injury-related struggles, it’s likely that her old back injury flared up again. The 35-year-old has long struggled with her back ailment. She struggled with such a flare-up even during the U.S. Women’s Open. Addressing her struggles she wrote on Instagram, “I wasn’t 100% healthy this week due to an old back injury flaring up but proud of how I gutted it out with very little practice and prep being done.” Ashleigh Buhai finished tied for 51st despite battling intense pain at the Lancaster Country Club. She had a score of 13-over-par.

The LPGA Tour pro’s game last season was no exception to this.  She took a five-week-long hiatus and made a comeback at the BMW Ladies Championship. This was where she managed to score her career’s lowest score of 62. Unexpected as this feat was, she may repeat this history with her return in the weeks ahead. But what has been Ashleigh Buhai’s game plan to recuperate over the years?

How has Ashleigh Buhai dealt with her back injury so far?

“I couldn’t move for five days,” said Ashleigh Buhai when she underwent her long-going back issue while moving houses. But considering her long-going struggles, Buhai knows how to work around this specific injury. Her approach involves a mix-up of rest and rejuvenating recovery therapies, thanks to her doctor who happens to be South African just like her.

She has also previously revealed undergoing treatment using cortisone injections in her back. This seems to have worked like a charm for her so far, and can potentially help her this time around as well. Further, this 2-time LPGA Tour winner makes sure to have her full-time physio travel with her. Her physiotherapist has been alongside her for the better of half a decade now. Something that will definitely come in handy post her experience at the Amundi Evian Championship.

Buhai might return to the course in a few weeks with her recovery process rock solid. However, only time will tell the extent of her hiatus going forth. All we know is that the Amundi Evian Championship will not be her much-awaited top-10 finish this season.