By Wings of Czechia
It has been a long and testing road for Czech golf professional Jana Melichová, but on Thursday she will finally tee it up again on the Ladies European Tour (LET) at the La Sella Open in Alicante, Spain.
What was meant to be just a short break in spring turned into a year away from competition after back problems led to surgery. “At first I thought I would be back in spring, then in May… but the doctors were not satisfied with the progress and I had to stay patient,” Melichová explained. “That constant postponing was hard, but it forced me to stay strong, mentally as well as physically.”
Recovery was not just about healing. Melichová spent months building strength in her core and stabilizing muscles, guided by doctors, physiotherapists, her fitness coach and swing coach, and she also invested heavily in her mental side.
“I had to accept the process, and I learned so much about my body and spine. It has made me a better athlete and a smarter golfer,” she said. “Golf is a mental game. Being away for so long was painful, but it gave me strength I wouldn’t have gained otherwise. Now I feel more balanced, tougher in my head, and ready for the challenges on tour.”
Her comeback started a few weeks ago with a warm-up at the LETAS Ladies Slovak Golf Open, where she finished an impressive second place in tough mountain conditions and high summer heat. A week later, she added another second place at the Raiffeisenbank Czech Open Golf Tour, confirming she is ready for the rhythm of multi-day tournaments again.
Now it is time for the big stage: La Sella Open will be a four-day test in Spanish summer temperatures of around 30°C. Melichová will be joined by her coach Jiří Němeček and is looking forward to every moment of being back on tour.
“I really missed everything – the tournaments, the atmosphere, my fellow players, the LET team, and of course the fans. It feels amazing to be back,” she added. “Most of all I want to thank everyone who believed in me and stayed loyal while I was out. Now I can’t wait to enjoy competing again.”
For many athletes, an enforced break is one of the hardest challenges of their careers. A year may feel like forever, but Melichová has shown that with patience, hard work and mental resilience, it is possible not only to return – but to come back feeling even stronger than before.
