Nelly Korda Fires Another 65 to Pull Away at Chevron Championship

Nelly Korda fired a second consecutive 7-under 65 to take a commanding seven-shot lead at The Chevron Championship on Friday, April 25, 2026, at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, Texas.

The 27-year-old American, ranked No. 2 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, carded her second straight 65 after opening the tournament with a 65 on Thursday, bringing her total to 14-under 130 after 36 holes. Her performance marked the best start to a major championship in her career, surpassing her 64 in the opening round of the 2022 Evian Championship.

Korda, the defending champion of The Chevron Championship having won the event in 2024, has been consistently strong early in the 2026 LPGA season, playing in the final group in each of her four tournaments this year and winning the season opener. She said after her second round that she was focused on maintaining her performance despite the significant lead.

“Just day one out of four — a lot can happen,” Korda said after her opening round. “So happy to be in this position and hoping to move forward.” She reiterated that mindset after her second 65, emphasizing the need to stay present through the remaining rounds.

Her ball-striking was particularly effective on the par-5 holes, where she made birdie on all three par-5s on the front nine during her opening round. Korda has historically excelled on par-5s in major championships, noting she was 21 under on par-5s in her major victories at The Chevron in 2024 and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2021.

She made a really long one on my first hole which could have started out the day with a bogey and I didn’t. I made a really solid putt. Even on the second hole where I saved a 5-footer for par. Made some good saves for par.

Nelly Korda

Korda also highlighted her putting as a key factor in her early success, noting she made several crucial saves for par in the early holes to avoid bogeys. She recorded her first bogey-free round in a major championship since the second round of the 2024 AIG Women’s Open, a feat she attributed to her composure on the greens.

Equally important was keeping bogeys off her card — her first bogey-free round in a major since the second round of the 2024 AIG Women’s Open — especially on the front nine.

Nelly Korda

She also took advantage of the par 5s, which she often does when contending in majors (she was 21 under on the par 5s in her major wins at The Chevron in 2024 and the KPMG Women’s PGA in 2021).

Golf Channel reporting

Patty Tavatanakit and Somi Lee were tied for second place at 6-under 138 after two rounds, each shooting 67 on Friday. Tavatanakit, who won The Chevron Championship in 2021 when it was known as the ANA Inspiration, played bogey-free for her 67. Lee bogeyed her final hole on the par-3 ninth to finish at 67.

Farah O’Keefe, a junior at the University of Texas, missed a 5-foot par putt on her final hole to fall into a group of players at 1-under 143. The morning wave concluded play on Friday before the afternoon wave began, with Korda’s score holding as the clubhouse lead at the end of the day.

The Chevron Championship, the first major championship of the 2026 LPGA season, is being held at Memorial Park Golf Course for the first time in the tournament’s history. The course presented challenging conditions due to recent rainfall, which limited roll in the fairways and emphasized precision in approach shots and putting.

Korda’s performance through two rounds has positioned her favorably as she seeks to become the first player to win back-to-back Chevron Championship titles since Karrie Webb accomplished the feat in 2005 and 2006. With 36 holes remaining, her seven-shot lead represents a significant advantage, though she has cautioned against looking ahead.