LPGA Injury Update: Former No.1 Jin Young Ko to Return After 3-Month Break

Returning to a sport after an injury is never easy. And, Jin Young Ko would certainly agree! The last three seasons were tough, to say the least, for the golfer, who ended the same with struggles related to her health. Moreover, back in 2023, the LPGA Tour pro had to withdraw from the final event of the season. But, never fear; it appears the South Korean athlete is making a comeback.

The 2024 Honda LPGA Thailand is all set to kick off on February 22 at Siam Country Club at the Pattaya Old Course. And yes you guessed right, gracing the field of golfers would be Ko, who has recovered from the left knee surgery that she suffered during the CME Group Tour Championship!

Jin Young Ko’s return to the LPGA Tour—a glorious one or not?

During the 2023 season finale on the women’s circuit, the 28-year-old had to undergo an MRI owing to an injury she suffered during her appearance at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican. The former World No. 1 felt pain for the first time during the fifth hole on Thursday during the event, following which she went ahead to purchase and wear a knee brace on Monday before the Tour Championship.

Unfortunately, the 2-time major champ could only finish half of the no-cut tournament as she was forced to withdraw from it. The golfer could only card scores of 71-71 over the two days at the par-72 Tiburón Golf Club in Naples, Florida. Now, almost three months later, the 15-time LPGA Tour champ seems to have made a recovery as she enters the field for the third event on the circuit.

Interestingly, she would be dead set on taking a cut from the $1.7 million purse along with clinching the title of winner from defending champion Lilia Vu. What’s more, she became eligible for the upcoming event on the tour by holding onto her place inside the top 10 on the Rolex Rankings for women as the current World No. 6.

If you think that the South Korean professional would have a hard time making a return, do get ready for her to prove you wrong. Why? Well, she had not even let her wrist injury hold her back from winning on Tour for the past couple of seasons.

Ko’s remarkable comebacks after injury

Towards the end of 2020, the pro was riddled with a wrist injury. However, that did not stop her from raking in her single win of the season at the CME Group Tour Championship. Now, enter 2021. She came to be plagued with a similar ailment on her wrist. But then again, she didn’t disappoint, as the former No. 1 went ahead to successfully defend her title at the season finale.

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The pattern did not change in 2023 either. The 28-year-old started off the year with a wrist injury and emerged victorious two more times in the same year at the HSBC Women’s World Championship and the Cognizant Founders Cup. If Ko has taught us anything, it’s not to underestimate her, especially when she sports an injury. Interestingly, what would happen if she recovered from the same? Well, one thing is for sure: the rest of the field has a tough job set ahead of them at the Honda LPGA Thailand.

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