Battled Dormant Lyme Disease and Hip Injury, Sandra Gal Returns to Blue Bay LPGA 2024 as a Valiant Hero

The year 2024 seems to be special for the LPGA Tour. Recounting the long list of firsts and returns witnessed this year, the return of the Blue Bay LPGA tournament after 6 years, coupled with Sandra Gal’s first spotting since 2022 at the event, surely makes it worth your while.

Gal has emerged as a symbol of willpower and perseverance as she makes a comeback to the golf world after long years of fighting Lyme disease and hip injuries in the form of a torn right hip labrum. But why did it take so long for the LPGA star to make a comeback?

Revisiting Sandra Gal’s story of a health-related hiatus

Life changed for the 38-year-old when she got diagnosed with dormant Lyme disease back in August 2019. Sadly enough, it was the stressors associated with both her personal and professional life that aggravated her condition.

Despite the challenges, the LPGA sensation did not give up. She tried multiple times to make a comeback to professional golf in the past 5 years. However, pushing herself a little too much cost her in the form of injuries that took nearly a year to completely heal and for her to walk pain-free.

However, Gal’s warrior mindset has led her to make yet another comeback at the much-wanted event. The determined star is playing at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Club this weekend, thanks to a sponsor’s exemption.

Evidently, the University of Florida graduate is all hyped up for her much-awaited return. She said, “I’m so excited and so grateful that I get to be out there again after thinking that I might never be able to. It’s like a whole different level of appreciation to go out there. I think I’m going to really savor it.”

As the 1-time LPGA winner takes her golf clubs back from the crutches of destiny, it will undoubtedly be a sight to see her play alongside some of the best talents after so long. Whether she will make the event her second-ever victory or not remains a matter only time can answer.

Read More: Who Is Helping Rose Zhang to Be on Her Feet at the 2023 Maybank Championship?

But our curious minds lead us to wonder whether she will be teeing it up in any other events this season or not. So what are Gal’s expectations for the rest of the year?

What’s next for Gal?

As of now, Gal is not in the field at any of the next two events of the LPGA Tour. She has not been very stringent on the matter of schedule ever since she has been dealing with the growing health issues as well.

She once said, “I am not set on my schedule, as I will have to track my progress as I compete and adjust accordingly. It will be a combination of LPGA and LET tournaments.” Time will tell whether her current health condition will allow her to remain a consistent presence on the greens or not.

Read More: ‘Get the F**k Over It’: Revolutionary Paige Spiranac Makes a Bold Verdict on LPGA Amid Her Tense Relationship With the Division