After a difficult year out with injury, Jana Melichová made an emotional return last month and reminded everyone just why she is a two-time Ladies European Tour (LET) winner.
The Czech star was absent from competition for 12 months after a long-term back injury required surgery bringing her 2024 season to an end.
Returning to LET action at the La Sella Open – the same site of her last start one year ago – Melichová produced a remarkable comeback performance finishing 7th on eight-under par as Anna Huang claimed victory. This included rounds of 69 (-3) and 68 (-4) over the weekend.
“La Sella was amazing,” the 27-year-old said. “I was really excited to come back. It brings tears to my eyes to see everyone again. It’s very lovely. Especially the Czech squad. It’s really nice and kind of difficult to describe the happiness. I was following them all while I was at home and watched both of Sara [Kouskova]’s wins. It was amazing. She’s a rockstar. But yes, it was nice to come back to La Sella as this was the last event I played in last year.
“It was a long year, I underwent back surgery after I had a disc herniation. It went well but I had a couple of months after the surgery where the doctors weren’t really sure if it was the right surgery for me. It was a weird one where I didn’t know what to do. Some doctors were telling me they wanted to do spinal fusion, which is an even more horrible scenario.
“But then I got some second opinions, worked with my physios and doctors back home and we were able to get the situation under control. Thanks to rehab, and taking the extra time off we really managed to get my body back into a good state.”
Back in June 2024, Melichová claimed her second LET victory and first as a professional winning the Dutch Ladies Open at Hilversumsche Golf Club. Seemingly back to her best having first won on Tour as an amateur in 2022 at the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open, Melichová was forced to end her season early with back problems persisting on and off the course.
“I had issues since I joined the Tour, really,” the Czech star explained. “Since winter 2022, after my first win on the LET. I lost a lot of weight and a lot of muscle. The golf swing is not something natural for the spine. I struggled for two years. Last year it was too much pressure and got into a state where I couldn’t even walk. The surgery was inevitable.”
After undergoing back surgery at the end of the year, Melichová would face both physical and mental challenges as she looked to get fit for LET action once again..
“I started practicing earlier this year,” she said. “I had some very difficult times mentally. I read about other athletes with disc herniations having to have more difficult surgeries later on, so reading that was uncomfortable. I worked really hard with my mental coach to not get stressed or caught up with that. In the end it was alright and we got back on track.
“I then had to exercise a lot after the surgery, get my core strength back. I wanted to come back a lot earlier [than Slovakia]. I didn’t know it would take so much time. I wanted to be back at the end of Spring but the body wasn’t ready. In July I did a check up with my doctors and did an MRI. It showed great results so I planned my LET comeback. I gave myself enough time to prepare and be ready for La Sella.”
As close friend and compatriot Kousková won twice in June, Melichová was able to watch on with happiness while planning her own comeback, beginning with a start on the LET Access Series (LETAS) in August. The 27-year-old would make a stunning return finishing second in Slovakia.
“Slovakia was a great warm-up event,” Melichová said. “I was very surprised with how well my game held up after a year out. I was very nervous teeing up on LETAS and I was really stressed. But it was really good. I did a lot of work with my swing coach to adjust to the surgery and it was for the better. I could feel it on the course.”
One month later Melichová made her welcomed returned to the LET with a 7th place finish in Spain. Having played at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France last week – sadly missing the cut by just one shot – the Czech star has entered the Wistron Ladies Open and Aramco China Championship later this month as she prepares for a big 2026 season.
Melichová continued: “I feel even more confident now. Preparing for next year is now crucial. I knew I needed four or five events this year to see how I would do and then make changes in the off-season. I want to be ready for next season. That’s the goal.”
