HOUSTON — Nelly Korda continued her incredible hot streak, but this is clearly the most impressive round since it’s at the first major of the year.
Korda fired a seven-under 65 in an afternoon group Thursday at the Chevron Championship to put herself atop the leaderboard. She leads by two shots over Somi Lee and Patty Tavatanakit.
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“I’m happy. Just day one out of four. A lot can happen,” Korda said. “Happy to be in this position and hoping to move forward.”
Everything was working well for Korda, especially her sizzling putter. She needed just 24 putts to get through the round at Memorial Park Golf Course.
“It feels good. I put in a good bit of work before this event on Monday and Tuesday. On Tuesday, I came out and putted in the rain when we were allowed to before the pro-am and also Wednesday,” Korda said. “Overall, as everyone does, we all prepped for this event, but it feels good to put a good round together.”
Korda shot the second-lowest opening round of a major championship in her career. Her previous low was a 64 in the Evian Championship in 2022 when she eventually tied for eighth place. She also had a bogey-free round, her first in a major since the second round of the 2024 Women’s British Open.
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On her last nine holes [which was the front nine), Korda birdied Nos. 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8. Asked what she was happy with, there was plenty to talk about.
“Overall, everything,” Korda said. “Made some good up and downs. Made some good saves for par. I think just overall I was pretty happy with every part of the game. Just maybe hit my driver a little bit far left and right on a couple holes. There wasn’t just one direct miss. But on a golf course like this where the rough isn’t too high I think it’s OK.”
Her first round this year was a complete about-face from last year. As the defending champion in 2025, Korda shot an opening 77 and had to work hard just to make the cut.
Korda called this public course a bomber’s paradise earlier in the week. Asked how she’d like to see majors setup on the LPGA, Korda needed one word: “Long,” she said. “I think it should test every part of your game. I just think it should just play long and tough.”
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Thursday the course setup was 6,651 yards, and Korda delivered. She was four-under on the par-5s.
Last year, Korda didn’t win a tournament after she had seven victories in 2024. This year, she’s already won the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions and she finished second in the other three tournaments. She’s trying to win her third major this week.
Korda’s life off the golf course is going well, too. She got engaged to her fiancee’, Casey Gunderson, last year. She’s played with her sister, Jessica Korda, this season as her sister is returning to play some professional golf. Her nephew Greyson was following her for a couple of holes on Thursday as well.
As is customary, she signed autographs for kids on Thursday, then Korda even obliged a volunteer by holding her phone so they could take a selfie of them together.
It was a good day.
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