Rolex Rankings No. 2 Nelly Korda has certainly learned a thing or two about perspective over the last three months. After a 2021 season that saw her win her first major, earn Olympic Gold and reach No. 1 in the world, golf fans expected the 23-year-old Floridian to ascend to even greater heights in 2022. Instead, Korda has been sidelined since early March after being diagnosed with a blood clot in her left arm and undergoing surgery.

“It's like when you're sick and your nose is stuffy, you're so grateful to be able to breathe. I feel like it's the same way,” said Korda before the start of this week’s U.S. Women’s Open, her first competitive start since January. “I think when it's kind of taken away from you, you kind of sit back and you realize how amazing of a sport it is and then how you can travel the world and how you can just do what you love.”

Move ahead to Saturday and other than a few late bobbles, you’d never know that Korda was coming off such a long layoff and a scary health situation. Korda is 4-under through 54 holes at the U.S. Women’s Open presented by ProMedica, historically one of the toughest events on the women’s professional schedule. Korda was even tied for third at -7 through 15 holes, but three straight bogeys to end her round dropped her into a tie for 14th heading into Sunday’s final round. Still, the inside-the-ropes experience this week at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club has been a salve for Korda’s competitive spirit.

“I'm doing what I love and I'm out here in the heat competing at the U.S. Women's Open, and a couple months back I wasn't sure if I was going to be doing that,” said Korda on Saturday after signing autographs for the scores of fans who lined the pine straw at Pine Needles. “I don't think I've ever had that big of a crowd following me at a Women's Open or in general on a Saturday, not even being in the last pairing. So that was really cool to hear everyone shout my name. And for everyone to say that they're happy that I'm back, it felt really nice, too.”

Nelly Korda Keeping Up with Contenders in Comeback Appearance

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