Jessica Korda is back: After a two-and-a-half-year break, she returns in December at the Grant Thornton Invitational.
Jessica Korda has been absent from the fairways for quite some time, but now it’s official: the six-time LPGA Tour winner will make her comeback this December at the Grant Thornton Invitational in Naples, Florida. A lot has changed during her time away—she became a mother, welcoming her son Grayson in 2024. Thanks to the LPGA Tour’s maternity leave policy, which allows players 24 months to return after childbirth, Korda is now ready to rejoin competitive golf.
Korda teams up with Bud Cauley for mixed-format event
For her return, Korda has chosen a team-based format over solo competition. She will partner with Bud Cauley of the PGA Tour to form one of 16 mixed teams at the Grant Thornton Invitational. The event, held from December 12 to 14 at Tiburón Golf Club, features three days of play with different formats: scramble, modified four-ball, and alternate shot. With $4 million in prize money at stake, Korda brings her six LPGA titles and Solheim Cup experience from 2013, 2019, and 2021 to the competition.
Family affair: Korda sisters compete against each other
Korda’s early return comes as a surprise. As recently as late 2023, she had stated that 2026 was her realistic target for a comeback, with 2025 intended as a transition year. After giving birth in the spring, she described the physical challenges of swinging a club again—her shoulder, forearm, and hip all protested after more than a year without practice. Her decision to return to competition so soon is all the more remarkable. Also in the field is her sister Nelly Korda, the current World No. 2, who will play alongside Denny McCarthy. While Jessica was on maternity leave, Nelly captured seven LPGA titles, including a Major at the 2024 Chevron Championship. Now, the sisters will share a tournament once again—this time as competitors on opposing teams.