Chevron Championship: Korda leads after opening 65 as Mimi Rhodes impresses
At the chevron championship in Houston, Nelly Korda opened with a statement round and moved straight to the top of the board. The World No. 2 shot a bogey-free 65 at Memorial Park Golf Course on Thursday in ET, building a two-shot lead in the year’s first women’s major. England’s Mimi Rhodes also made an early impression on her tournament debut, staying within striking distance after a 69.
Korda takes control early in Houston
Korda’s round began with pressure, but she answered it with calm par saves and then accelerated. She birdied No. 12 and No. 16 to turn in 2-under, then added more momentum with birdies at the first, second, third, seventh and eighth holes. Her 7-under total left her two clear at the chevron championship after a first round that looked controlled from start to finish.
The performance mattered not only for the leaderboard, but also for how it unfolded. Korda was under stress early, then settled in and played the kind of golf that can separate a field in a major. Her round was her second-lowest opening round in a major and her first bogey-free major round since the second round of the 2024 AIG Women’s Open.
Chevron Championship leaderboard tightens behind the leader
Behind Korda, South Korea’s Somi Lee and Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit were tied for second at 5-under after both carded 67s. The group at 4-under included France’s Perrine Delacour, China’s Yan Liu, Farah O’Keefe of the United States and Japan’s Yuka Yoshida. That leaves the chevron championship with a crowded chase pack, even with Korda out front.
England’s Mimi Rhodes sits four shots off the lead after a 69 that featured five birdies and two bogeys. On her major debut, she described the day as one she felt prepared for after arriving on Sunday and spending time getting familiar with the course.
Immediate reactions from the players
Korda said the wind made club selection more demanding in spots, but she felt in control overall. “The wind was picking up here and there, ” Korda said. “Through the trees it was definitely gusting so I had to lock in on a couple of yardages here and there. Overall, I just felt really good, though, out there. ”
Rhodes framed her start as the product of preparation and confidence. “I felt ready, ” Rhodes said. “Getting here on Sunday, it was probably a benefit to me that I was able to see the course a bit more. I did as much prep as I could and felt comfortable coming into this round. ”
What the first round means now
The chevron championship has already produced a clear early storyline: Korda is in command, but the field is close enough to keep the pressure on. Her lead is meaningful because it comes in the first women’s major of the year, where momentum can quickly shape the rest of the week.
World number one Jeeno Thitikul opened with a 74 and sits nine shots back, while Charley Hull finished level par after a round with three birdies and three bogeys. With Korda setting the pace and several contenders still within reach, the chevron championship now turns to whether anyone can cut into her margin in ET on the next round.
