Nelly Korda is very clearly the player to beat right now on the LPGA Tour, which continues this week with the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba.
And American superstar Korda headlines the field in Playa del Carmen, fresh from her major win at The Chevron Championship.
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She triumphed by five shots at Houston’s Memorial Park last week for her third career major title, and second win of the 2026 season.
It represents the 17th win of her phenomenal LPGA Tour career, and has helped her return to number one in the world rankings.
In light of such superb success, Korda has been asked ahead of the Riviera Maya Open about her next career goal.
Nelly Korda always looking ahead after The Chevron Championship win
Korda responded to the question in Mexico: “Whatever I set my heart to.
“I mean, I just love competing and I love being out here competing.
“I’m always striving to be better and to contend in every major, every tournament.
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“Just because what I’ve accomplished, what’s funny with sports is that’s in the past.
“What you want to do is look to the future and look to improve and look to contend in the bigger events.
“Even if you get beat, it doesn’t matter.
“That’s kind of what motivates me to continuously put myself in that position.”
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Nelly Korda not focusing on being world number one
Remarkably, only two players have beaten Korda in the 2026 LPGA Tour season, such have been her remarkable displays.
She also won the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, before finishing second to Kim Hyo-joo at both the Fortinet Founders Cup and the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass.
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Korda then finished in a tie for second at the Aramco Championship, where Lauren Coughlin emerged victorious.
And while she is very proud of returning to world number one after The Chevron Championship, it is certainly not the be-all and end-all for the American.
“I held the title a couple times,” she said. “Obviously it’s an amazing accomplishment.
“It’s something that I wanted to hold when I was a little girl.
“I think that just measures that you’re playing the best golf at the end of the day.
“But it’s so different versus any other sport.
“Like in tennis, let’s say there is an advantage to being the No. 1 player in the world.
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“In golf there is no advantage to being the No. 1 player in the world.
“It just means you’re playing the best golf.
“When it comes to being an advantage there is zero in golf, so for me it just means you’re playing the best golf.
“I don’t really focus on the ranking too much.
“I just focus on the simplicity of golf, of trying to go out there and do the best that I can.”
Replacing Jeeno Thitikul, it is the seventh time that Korda has reached number one in the rankings, and the first since August 2025.
Read more:
Nelly Korda takes different approach to Rory McIlroy after winning The Chevron Championship
Dame Laura Davies suggests if Nelly Korda can catch Annika Sorenstam and win 10 majors in her career
Kevin Kisner explains how Nelly Korda left him stunned the first time he ever played with her
Read the full article here
