Nelly Korda off to strong start at The Annika, talks migraines, SI Swimsuit Issue

BELLEAIR, Fla. – Nelly Korda had never suffered from a migraine in her life until she got to the 2024 Solheim Cup. The only time she felt relief early that week in Virginia was to sleep in a dark room.

“I just wasn't sure what was kind of going on,” said Korda. “I never thought it could have been an injury. I just thought maybe with everything, all the stress that I went through during the year, that like my body was kind of in overdrive in a sense.”

Several weeks later, as she was prepping in California with her coach Jamie Mulligan before heading to South Korea, she suffered what she called a minor neck injury.

“Sometimes your body gives you signs, right?” she said of the headaches. “It's smart. I need to listen to it a little bit more.”

Korda, who teed it up in Wednesday’s pro-am with WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, said she might have “rushed” her rehab to get back in time for this week’s event. A two-time winner of The Annika driven by Gainbridge, it was important for her to get back inside the ropes at Pelican Golf Club and play in front of somewhat of a home crowd.

Korda opened with a 4-under 66, chipping in for birdie on the 18th to sit two strokes back of leaders Charley Hull and Jiwon Jeon.

The 2024 Rolex Player of the Year, a six-time winner this season, wasn’t sure what to expect her first week back after a two-month break. Thursday marked her first time walking 18 holes since mid-September in Cincinnati. A doctor cleared her to practice on Oct. 28.

“Whenever I go through these things, I'm just kind of grateful to be out here playing,” said Korda. “Didn't really know what to expect. Was definitely a little nervous on the first couple holes, just not knowing what to expect of my game because I have not been playing too much.”

During her time away from the game, Korda took part in a photoshoot for Sports Illustrated’s 2025 Swimsuit Issue. Korda said the invitation came about two months ago and it fit into her original schedule coming back from Asia.

More: First look at Nelly Korda in Sports Illustrated's 2025 Swimsuit Issue is here

“MJ Day, the editor, she was so amazing,” said Korda. “The whole crew was so amazing. I was very shy at first. I'm not used to doing anything like that; so outside my comfort zone.

"I think that's what's great about these opportunities is that you do get to step outside your comfort zone and do something different. I was just really excited for the opportunity to do this. I mean, it was so cool. The whole crew was amazing. By the end of day, I was having so much fun with them.”

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Nelly Korda off to strong start at The Annika, talks migraines, SI Swimsuit Issue