Korda Fires 65 to Lead Chevron Championship After Round 1; England's Rhodes Cards 69 on Major Debut

Nelly Korda fired a bogey-free, seven-under-par 65 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Chevron Championship at Houston's Memorial Park Golf Course, with England's Mimi Rhodes close behind after a three-under-par 69 on her tournament debut.

The Details

Korda, the defending champion and two-time major winner, produced a composed performance across 18 holes to sit two clear of the field, according to BBC Sport. The American handled blustery conditions with control, finishing the day without a dropped shot.

"The wind was picking up here and there. 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," Korda said after her round.

Behind Korda, South Korea's Somi Lee and Thailand's Patty Tavatanakit both posted 67s — five under par — to share second place, two shots off the lead, BBC Sport reported.

Rhodes, competing in her first Chevron Championship, carded a three-under 69 featuring five birdies and two bogeys, according to BBC Sport. The 24-year-old Englishwoman arrives at the Chevron having won three times on the Ladies European Tour last season, a record that earned her entry into the first women's major of the year.

Not all the big names kept pace with the leaders. World number four Charley Hull, also of England, opened with an even-par 72 to sit nine strokes behind Korda, BBC Sport reported. World number one Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand had a difficult day, posting a 74 — nine shots off the lead — leaving her significant ground to make up over the remaining three rounds.

Context

The Chevron Championship is the first women's major of the 2026 LPGA season, according to LPGA.com. Korda won the same event in 2024, making her the defending champion. A two-stroke first-round lead at a major is a strong but not insurmountable position — the tournament plays out over four rounds at Memorial Park.

Rhodes's performance marks her introduction to the major stage. Her three LET victories last season established her as a prospect on the European circuit, and Thursday's opening round placed her inside the top tier of the leaderboard on debut, according to BBC Sport.

What's Next

The Chevron Championship continues with a second round on Friday. Korda will look to extend her lead; Lee and Tavatanakit will attempt to close the two-shot gap. World number one Thitikul faces a significant deficit and will need a low round to return to contention. No official next-round tee times were confirmed in the available sourcing at the time of publication.