Nelly Korda established an early lead at The Chevron Championship, carding a remarkable 7-under 65 in the first round. This performance positions her at the top of the leaderboard at the first major of the LPGA season.

Korda's Dominant First Round

Korda’s score marks her best start to a major championship in four years, giving her a two-stroke advantage. She navigated early challenges with exceptional putting and then excelled on the back nine at Memorial Park.

Chasing the Leader

Patty Tavatanakit, the 2021 champion of this tournament (formerly the ANA Inspiration), is two shots behind Korda with a bogey-free round of 67. Somi Lee also carded a 67, despite a bogey on her final hole.

Amateur Contender

Amateur golfer Farah O'Keefe is also in contention, finishing with a 68 after narrowly missing a par putt on her last hole. She chipped in for a birdie on the fourth hole to reach 5 under.

Korda's Perspective

“It’s only the first day,” Korda stated, acknowledging that the tournament standings are likely to change over the next three rounds. She expressed satisfaction with her position and her commitment to continued improvement.

Key to Success

Korda’s strong performance builds on a successful season, having consistently been in contention in her previous four tournaments, including a season-opening victory. She excelled on the par-5 holes, making birdie on all three, and demonstrated precision on the par-3s.

She also maintained a bogey-free round in a major for the first time since the second round of the 2024 Women's British Open. Crucially, Korda made several key saves for par, including a long putt on her first hole.

Other Notable Performances

Jeeno Thitikul, the top-ranked women's golfer, struggled with four bogeys in her final eight holes, finishing with a 74. Minjee Lee, the Women's PGA champion, also opened with a 74.

Course Conditions

The Chevron Championship is being held at Memorial Park for the first time, following three years at Carlton Woods. The course, measuring just over 6,800 yards, was adjusted due to soft conditions caused by recent rainfall. A total of 37 players broke par in the first round.