Jessica Korda’s indefinite break from competition now includes the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links in California as the six-time LPGA winner has withdrawn. The USGA reports that Korda is one of three fully exempt players to pull out of the competition along with Japan’s Mone Inami, No. 66 in the Rolex Rankings, and South Korea’s Hee Jeong Lim, No. 84.
The 30-year-old Korda has struggled with a back injury for some time now and said recently that she has reached a point where the pain is not improving, forcing her to withdraw from several events.
“As a competitor, it’s upsetting to have to do this time and time again,” Korda wrote on her social media accounts. “At the advice of my medical team, I have made the decision to stop playing until I can get my back fully healthy.”
A six-time winner on the LPGA, Korda last teed it up in May at the Cognizant Founders Cup, where she withdrew after a first-round 72. Her best finish this season in six starts is a share of 18th at the Dio Implant LPGA Open.
The U.S. Women’s Open Trophy as seen on the 18th hole of Pebble Beach Golf Links
in the Pebble Beach, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. (Copyright USGA/Kip Evans)
Five players have since been added to the field of 156, with recent LPGA winners already in the field: Azahara Munoz, Moriya Jutanugarn, Allysha Mae Mateo, Jenny Coleman and Kumkang Park.
Coleman was the second alternate from the Atlanta qualifying site and got the call after Agathe Laisne declined the spot.
This year’s championship takes place July 6-9 and marks the first time the iconic track will play host to a women’s major. The cutoff date to qualify from the Rolex Rankings (top 75) is July 3. The winner of this week’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship will earn a spot if not otherwise qualified.