Back
Sports

Nelly Korda Wins 2026 Chevron Championship and U.S. Women's Open

View source

Korda Completes Major Double in 2026

Nelly Korda won two consecutive LPGA major championships in 2026: the Chevron Championship in April and the U.S. Women's Open in June. These victories mark her fourth and fifth career major titles, respectively, and have solidified her return to the world No. 1 ranking.

2026 Chevron Championship

Event Summary

Nelly Korda won the Chevron Championship on March 31, 2026, at Memorial Park in Houston, Texas. She finished the tournament at 18 under par (270), with a five-stroke victory. Her final round was a 2-under-par 70.

Scoring Details

  • Korda shot rounds of 65-65-70-70 for a total of 270.
  • Her 36-hole score of 130 was the lowest in LPGA major history, excluding the Amundi Evian Championship.
  • She tied the event's 54-hole scoring record on Saturday.
  • Korda finished two strokes shy of the tournament record of 20 under par.

Tournament Performance

Korda led by five shots entering the final round and maintained a four-shot lead throughout the afternoon. She achieved a wire-to-wire victory, never relinquishing the lead after birdieing the 16th hole in her opening round.

She joins Juli Inkster (1989) and Amy Alcott (1991) as the only players in the last 50 years to win an LPGA major while leading by multiple shots after each round.

Statements

"That was a hard weekend. Honestly, having that big of a lead, it's not easy. It was definitely one of the hardest things I've had to do mentally."

— Nelly Korda

Attendance and Tradition

Early rounds had sparse crowds, but attendance increased by the final round, with a large gallery present on the 18th hole. Korda jumped into the temporary pool near the 18th green after her win, continuing the tournament's tradition at its new venue.

Season Performance Prior to Chevron

Korda opened the 2026 season with a win at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in January. She has competed in the final group in all five tournaments she entered in 2026 through the Chevron Championship, winning the season opener and the first major, and finishing runner-up in the other three. She went winless in 2025.

2026 U.S. Women's Open

Event Summary

Nelly Korda won the U.S. Women's Open on June 7, 2026, at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, California. She shot a final round 2-under-par 69 to finish at 8 under par (276), one stroke ahead of Charley Hull and Gaby Lopez. This was the first U.S. Women's Open held at Riviera Country Club.

Scoring Details

  • Korda opened with a 2-over 73 on Thursday but recovered with back-to-back 67s to share the lead entering the final round.
  • She made a 9-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole to break a four-way tie for the lead.
  • Her final putt on the 18th hole caught the left edge and circled half the hole before dropping for a par to secure the win.

Prize Money

The tournament offered a record $12.5 million purse, with Korda earning $2.5 million.

Tournament Recap

The lead changed multiple times during the final round among Charley Hull, In Gee Chun, Sei Young Kim, Gaby Lopez, and Korda. Charley Hull shot a final-round 67 to finish second at 7 under par (277). Gaby Lopez carded a 68 for a share of the clubhouse lead before Korda's birdie at 17. In Gee Chun held a two-shot lead after birdies at 10 and 11 but bogeyed 12 and 13 and finished fourth at 6 under par (278). Sei Young Kim was fifth at 5 under par.

Defending Champion

Defending champion Maja Stark tied for eighth at 2 under par.

Australian Results

  • Grace Kim and Karis Davidson tied for 22nd at 2 over par.
  • Hannah Green and Minjee Lee tied for 28th at 3 over par.
  • Steph Kyriacou and amateur Sarah Hammett missed the cut.

Statements

"Just a dream. It's such an iconic golf course, event... Just a dream to win here."

— Nelly Korda

Reflecting on her mindset, she said she wrote a note to herself: "whatever happens, happens; just give it a 100%. And that's what I did."

Career Milestones and Season Performance

Career Major Titles

  • 2021: KPMG Women's PGA Championship
  • 2024: Chevron Championship
  • 2026: Chevron Championship
  • 2026: U.S. Women's Open

Korda has won four major championships. She needs one more major to achieve the Career Grand Slam; the Evian Championship and Women's British Open remain in the 2026 season.

World Ranking

Korda regained the world No. 1 ranking for the first time since August 2025 following her Chevron Championship victory, replacing Jeeno Thitikul.

2026 Season Performance

Through her first seven starts of the 2026 season, Korda had four wins (including two majors) and three second-place finishes. She has finished outside the top 10 only once in her last seven events entering the U.S. Women's Open.

LPGA Tour Wins

This is her 17th LPGA Tour win.