Seven months almost to the day since she suffered a horrific break of both the tibia and fibula in her lower right leg, Kemp is ready to launch her injury comeback at the Australian Women’s Classic at Coffs Harbour Golf Club starting Friday.

It is not Kemp’s first tournament since her injury – she shot 10-under to be tied fourth at a 54-hole NXXT Golf tournament in Florida last month – but the 39-year-old views this as the resumption of a career during which has spent more than 15 years based in the U.S.

The impact of Cyclone Alfred and the cancellation of the Australian WPGA Championship on the Gold Coast delayed her return by a week, allowing Kemp and coach John Serhan time to work on a swing still restricted by muscles in her right leg which are in the process of being restored to full strength.

Acknowledging the extent of the injuries suffered by Tiger Woods in a car accident in 2021 were far greater than her own, Kemp conceded that the 15-time major winner came to mind as she began her rehabilitation.

“Seeing how he’s gone about his recovery, which is 10 times worse, just made me think, 'Oh my God, am I going to limp for the rest of my life? Will I ever be able to play? Will I get my strength back?'” said Kemp, who will tee off alongside Claire Shin and Stephanie Bunque at 1:43pm on Friday.

“The first two months, there was a lot of tears, a lot of sleepless nights.”

There were more tears 11 weeks after the accident when Kemp took her first step without the aid of crutches.

It was not only a metaphorical releasing of the shackles, but the realisation that a return to professional golf might actually be possible.

“I was depressed. I thought that was it,” Kemp says matter-of-factly.

“I remember bawling my eyes out as soon as I could drop the crutches.

“The gratitude of going back and just being able to walk … I feel like I took that for granted for my whole life.

“I’m just honestly so happy to be playing golf, that’s all. Just being able to compete again and to come back and almost treat these as a little bit of a warm-up before I go back to the LPGA.

“It’s the perfect place to do it.”

ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S CLASSIC

Round 1 begins at 7:30am AEDT on Friday morning, with the final two rounds to be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo from 11am Saturday and Sunday.

LAST YEAR’S CHAMPIONS: Jessica Whitting, Nicole Broch Estrup, Pei-ying Tsai
PRIZEMONEY: €300,000
HOST COURSE: Coffs Harbour Golf Club (Eastlakes)
FORMAT: 54-hole stroke play competition with a cut to the top 60 players and ties after 36 holes
LIVE SCORES: wpga.org.au, ladieseuropeantour.com, auswomensclassic.com.au
TV COVERAGE: The Australian Women’s Classic is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
Round 2: Saturday 11am-4pm (Fox Sports 507/Kayo)
Round 3: Sunday 11am-4pm (Fox Sports 507/Kayo)
*All times AEDT.

HEADLINERS
Grace Kim: LPGA Tour winner and world No.83
Sarah Kemp: LPGA Tour player
Kirsten Rudgeley: 12th on 2024 LET Order of Merit
Manon De Roey: 2nd on 2024 LET Order of Merit
Daniela Darquea: Winner LET Qualifying School
Meghan MacLaren: 2022 Australian Women’s Classic champion and two-time Women’s NSW Open winner