Jessica Korda celebrated a remarkable comeback in 2018. (Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports)

1. Courageous comeback

Jessica Korda didn’t know what to expect when she boarded a plane to Thailand in February. Her head was still numb from the double-jaw surgery she’d had over the offseason. Forget the golf. What would people say about her new face? Even she didn’t recognize the person staring back in the mirror. Korda went to Thailand with no expectations and left with a trophy after triumphing in record-setting fashion. Pure guts. Gwk