HOUSTON – Nelly Korda walked off the golf course late Thursday afternoon at the Chevron Championship pleased with every part of her game. The world No. 2’s opening 7-under 65 is her second-lowest round opening round at a major championship, behind a 64 at the 2022 Evian Championship.
She leads by two over former Chevron champion Patty Tavatanakit and Somi Lee.
A rain-soaked Memorial Park played long on Thursday, just the way Korda likes it. She began the day with a long putt to save par and got stronger as the round progressed. On her second nine, she hit a 6-iron into the par-3 second to 4 feet, and a 5-iron into the par-3 seventh to 5 feet. She birdied four of the five par 5s, a key part to her two previous major wins. She took 24 putts on the day and recorded no bogeys.
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“What was I impressed with? Overall, everything,” she said.
Nelly Korda of the United States plays her shot from the 14th tee during the first round of The Chevron Championship 2026 at Memorial Park Golf Course on April 23, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
In four starts this season, Korda has played in the final group on Sunday each time out. She won the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions and then finished runner-up in three consecutive weeks. She has lost to only three players this season: Hyo Joo Kim (twice) and Lauren Coughlin.
Korda knows it’s early, but she’s feeling good about all aspects of life right now and it shows. Big sister Jessica came out with son Greyson late in the afternoon, joining Korda’s fiance and her parents. It will be a quick dinner and then she’s back out at 8:39 a.m. local time on Friday.
Farah O’Keefe of the United States looks on from the third green during the first round of The Chevron Championship 2026 at Memorial Park Golf Course on April 23, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
Amateur in contention at Chevron Championship
Amateur Farah O’Keefe chipped in on her 13th hole of the day and turned to her caddie/Texas teammate Bentley Cotton and said she might need to throw up.
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O’Keefe, the No. 4-ranked player in the world, shot 68 to sit in a share of fourth, while fellow amateur Yunseo Yang of South Korea shot 69 for a share of eighth. The last time two amateurs were in the top 10 at the end of the first round at this major was 2008, when Mariajo Uribe and Mallory Blackwelder were T-6 and T-10, respectively.
“Really happy I get to play in my home state,” said O’Keefe. “It’s not every day you get to drive to a golf tournament, let alone a major championship.”
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul opened with a 2-over 74. Hannah Green, a two-time winner on the LPGA this season who has won four times worldwide, shot 73.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Chevron Championship 2026: Nelly Korda shoots 65, takes two-shot lead
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