Nelly Korda opens with 65 at Chevron Championship to lead LPGA major

TL;DR

Nelly Korda shot a 7-under 65 to lead the Chevron Championship, her second-lowest opening round at a major. She is two strokes ahead of Patty Tavatanakit and Somi Lee.

Key points

Nelly Korda shot a 7-under 65 at the Chevron Championship.
She leads by two strokes over Patty Tavatanakit and Somi Lee.
This is Korda's second-lowest opening round at a major.
Korda birdied four of the five par 5s during her round.
She recorded no bogeys and took 24 putts.

Mentioned in this story

Memorial Park

Nelly KordaPatty TavatanakitSomi LeeChevron Championship

HOUSTON – Nelly Korda walked off the golf course late Thursday afternoon at the Chevron Championship pleased with every part of her game. The world No. 2's opening 7-under 65 is her second-lowest round opening round at a major championship, behind a 64 at the 2022 Evian Championship.

She leads by two over former Chevron champion Patty Tavatanakit and Somi Lee.

A rain-soaked Memorial Park played long on Thursday, just the way Korda likes it. She began the day with a long putt to save par and got stronger as the round progressed. On her second nine, she hit a 6-iron into the par-3 second to 4 feet, and a 5-iron into the par-3 seventh to 5 feet. She birdied four of the five par 5s, a key part to her two previous major wins. She took 24 putts on the day and recorded no bogeys.

"What was I impressed with? Overall, everything," she said.

Nelly Korda of the United States plays her shot from the 14th tee during the first round of The Chevron Championship 2026 at Memorial Park Golf Course on April 23, 2026 in Houston, Texas.

In four starts this season, Korda has played in the final group on Sunday each time out. She won the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions and then finished runner-up in three consecutive weeks. She has lost to only three players this season: Hyo Joo Kim (twice) and Lauren Coughlin.

Korda knows it's early, but she's feeling good about all aspects of life right now and it shows. Big sister Jessica came out with son Greyson late in the afternoon, joining Korda's fiance and her parents. It will be a quick dinner and then she's back out at 8:39 a.m. local time on Friday.

Q&A

What was Nelly Korda's score at the Chevron Championship?

Nelly Korda opened with a score of 7-under 65 at the Chevron Championship.

Who is trailing Nelly Korda in the Chevron Championship?

Patty Tavatanakit and Somi Lee are trailing Nelly Korda by two strokes.

How does Korda's opening round compare to her previous major rounds?

Korda's 65 is her second-lowest opening round at a major, following a 64 at the 2022 Evian Championship.

What conditions did Korda face during her round at Memorial Park?

Korda played on a rain-soaked Memorial Park, which she preferred, and recorded no bogeys during her round.