2026 Chevron Championship: Nelly Korda posts back-to-back 65s to take control of LPGA's first major

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Nelly Korda has been one of the dominant forces on the LPGA Tour for nearly a decade. But the world's No. 2 ranked player came into the 2026 Chevron Championship trying to capture her third major title after a surprising 2025 season that saw her go 0-for-5 in her quest to add more major hardware to her collection.

After two sensational rounds at the Chevron's new home of Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, Texas, Korda has seized control of the season's first major. Korda took a two-shot lead on Thursday with a 7-under 65 and proceeded to back that up with another 65 on Friday to open up a massive advantage.

At the time Korda walked off the 18th green and signed her card, she held a seven-shot lead over the next closest competitor, doubling up the efforts of fellow long hitters Ryan O'Toole and amateur Farah O'Keefe at 7 under. Patty Tavatanakit, who shot a 5-under 67 in the first round, had yet to begin her second round when Korda posted 14 under in the clubhouse after 36 holes, and will be the best hope of the afternoon wave to trim Korda's advantage to fewer than seven.

Pending a truly phenomenal showing from Tavatanakit in the afternoon, Korda will likely take the largest 36-hole lead in tournament history (previous best was 4 shots) and the lowest score through 36 holes in any LPGA major that isn't the Evian Championship, per Justin Ray.

Memorial Park has set up beautifully for Korda's game. It's a long golf course with wide fairways that's playing even longer (and wider) due to heavy rains that rolled through the Houston area earlier in the week, softening fairways and greens. Korda's ability off the tee, combining distance and accuracy, is always an advantage, but especially so in these conditions. Combine that with some terrific ball-striking and a hot putter and you get something really special.

Korda had a solid front nine, going out in 2 under, but turned it on early on the back. She rattled off back-to-back birdies on the long par-3 11th and the par-4 12th, before taking advantage of her length by reaching the par-5 14th in two -- missing a fairly short eagle putt but still walking away with another birdie.

Dialed tee shot pays off in a birdie for Nelly Korda on 11 🎯😤