Lilia Vu’s journey at the Chevron Championship last year was a stark contrast to her triumphant victory the year before. Battling a debilitating back injury that forced her to withdraw from defending her title, Vu was left questioning her future in professional golf. Unable to hit the ball past 40 yards on the range, she was faced with the possibility of not being able to play at all, which led her to reevaluate everything about her career and her identity as a golfer.
The injury forced Vu to take a step back and focus on becoming a more well-rounded individual, separating her identity as a golfer from her personal self. This time away from the game allowed her to spend time with family and friends, read books, and listen to audiobooks to improve herself both mentally and physically. One of the books that had a significant impact on Vu was “Be Water, My Friend” by Shannon Lee, which taught her the importance of adaptability in life and on the course.
After two months away from competition, Vu returned at the Meijer LPGA Classic and secured a victory, followed by second-place finishes at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the AIG Women’s Open. This triumphant comeback was a result of Vu’s changed perspective and hyper focus on body and swing awareness. Adding movement specialist John Yamada to her team helped Vu maintain the correct posture and prevent further back issues.
Vu’s 2024 trials served as a valuable learning experience, helping her center herself and find inner peace beyond the game of golf. She has gained a greater awareness of her body and what happens off the course, allowing her to come back to the Chevron Championship ranked fourth in the world with a newfound motivation and confidence. Despite the initial uncertainty about her future, Vu now feels more prepared to adapt to whatever challenges come her way, both on and off the golf course.
