Nelly Korda’s dominant Chevron week gives her 3 majors and World No. 1, and it all ended with a joyous cannonball

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“We finished second three times in a row and you work so hard to win,” said an emotional McDede, her caddie. “Not that doubt creeps in, but you’ve got the big lead all week and you expect to win every week. It’s not that easy to win. That’s the tough part about golf. Even if you’re the best at your craft, you don’t win at every week.”

Korda becomes the seventh player in LPGA history to win a third major before turning 28, joining Patty Berg, Louise Suggs, Betsy Rawls, Mickey Wright, Kathy Whitworth and Amy Alcott.

“Nelly is the modern-day woman athlete with her style, athleticism and poise. I’m very happy for her with this second Chevron win,” Amy Alcott said in a text message. “It is not easy to win from start to finish as I did it in ’91 when I won. No doubt you have to be in the groove mentally and physically.”

Korda has collected nine of her 17 career LPGA wins in the last three years. She’s played in the final group on Sunday in every tournament this season. This was her 28th final grouping of her LPGA career. That’s five more than the next closest player on tour since her 2017 rookie season.

The lead in the final round over Tavatanakit was once cut to four shots but never any less than that. The back nine of a major should feature drama and suspense but not with the way Korda is playing these days. She’s only the third player since 1980 to win by two or more shots after leading by multiple strokes after all three rounds.

The only two other players to start an LPGA season with five consecutive starts of second place or better are Karrie Webb in 2000 (through five starts) and Annika Sorenstam in 2001 (through six starts).

Korda has become such a dominant figure over the last few years that she’s getting accolades from other superstars. LeBron James weighed in on social media, cheering Korda on with only a few holes remaining. He was also in Houston as the Los Angeles Lakers were set to play Game 4 of the NBA’s Western Conference first-round playoff game against the Rockets.

James has the golf bug and has often tweeted his admiration for Korda and her game.

“It's so cool to see how many athletes love the game of golf, how many different people it brings together,” Korda said. “… What's amazing to me is they're interested in women's golf. They're hyping us up and they're putting us on their socials. They're watching, and they're supporting. And then we're doing that to them, and I think that's what is beautiful about sports.”

Korda’s five-shot lead was the biggest 54-hole lead of her career, and even though she seemed in complete control, it still tested her nerves. She was the first player to lead this championship by multiple strokes after the first, second and third rounds since Lorena Ochoa in 2008. She’s doing things that require diving back into history. And she finished it off the way she did in Houston two years ago, with a cannonball. (The small pool was a controversial topic this week, because it was put together in a hurry, but a pond is expected to be installed for 2027.)

“So refreshing,” Korda said of winner’s jump. “It was so hot this weekend in Houston. I got to do it with, an addition of Jess this year, compared to 2024 when Jess wasn't in Houston. If I'm hoisting the trophy, then I'm jumping in. I'm going to keep the tradition alive. Everyone is going to have their own opinion. My opinion is if you kill a tradition it's going to be gone forever.”

Looking forward, Korda has won three majors but never more than one in the same season. It’s likely now a new career goal that was unlocked in Texas. The next major is in early June the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is later in June at Hazeltine National, another track that should suit her game.

Yes, Korda won seven times in 2024 and, no, she’s not one to compare seasons. But 2026 is starting to look like it could be a year that is as similarly successful.

“I think it’s a testament to who she is,” McDede said. “It’s a testament to how hard she works and our team.”