England's rising star Mimi Rhodes positioned herself as a genuine contender at the Chevron Championship, while world No. 2 Nelly Korda seized the early advantage in the first women’s major of the 2026 season. Korda delivered a flawless, bogey‑free round of 65, seven strokes under par, marking her best opening score at a major in four years.
Her performance placed her two shots ahead of Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit and South Korea’s Somi Lee, who both posted solid rounds to sit in second place. Amateur Farah O'Keefe, playing on a sponsor invitation, joined a four‑way tie for fourth after carding an opening 68. Meanwhile, LPGA rookie Mimi Rhodes, making her debut at the tournament, recorded a 69 that landed her in a ten‑player tie for eighth place.
"I think I felt ready," Rhodes said after her round. "Getting here on Sunday was probably a benefit to me because I could see the course a bit more and just be on site a bit more." She added that the extra time allowed her to become more comfortable with the layout, noting, "I feel a bit more comfortable getting my bearings around. I did as much prep as I could and, yeah, felt comfortable coming into this round. So it was just about committing and being confident out there, which I think I did." Rhodes reflected on her recent showing at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, where she finished six‑under and tied for 10th.
"It was quite different mentally because I had an invite and there was no cut, so I could play more freely," she explained. She believes that freedom helped her shed pressure and focus on execution. "I tend to play well in the first round if I'm confident, if I'm committing to shots, and if I'm not worried about the cut line.
That's what I've come to do here. The first major of the year, there are four more to go, so I just want to play relaxed golf and not put too much pressure on myself." Across the fairways, fellow Englishwoman Charley Hull, currently world No.
4, opened with a level‑par 72, placing her five strokes behind Korda and tied for 26th after the first round. Hull, who was runner‑up at the Chevron in 2016, is still hunting her maiden major title after missing the cut in Texas the previous year. Her front nine was flawless, a 35 that included a birdie on the third hole, but three bogeys on the back nine dropped her momentum, though she recovered with two late birdies.
Patty Tavatanakit delivered a bogey‑free round, tallying five birdies in her first 18 holes, while Somi Lee posted six birdies before a stumble on the final hole of the day. China’s Yan Liu also made an early impression, carding a 68 to sit four under par, briefly joining the leaders before Rhodes settled into a three‑under group. Rhodes’ opening stretch was aggressive: she birdied two of her first three holes, then incurred a bogey on the fourth.
She rebounded with three more birdies to reach the turn in 32 strokes. The only blemish on her back nine was a bogey at the 11th, but she finished strong, securing a solid position in the leaderboard.
The tournament’s broader context includes the defending champion, Japan’s Mao Saigo, who captured the 2025 title after a dramatic playoff against four other competitors. As the field settles, analysts are debating who will ultimately lift the Chevron trophy. With Korda’s dominant start, Rhodes’ confident debut, and Hull’s experience, the competition promises a compelling narrative throughout the remaining rounds.
Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports, with second‑round coverage beginning Friday at 4 p.m. on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event.
The event is also available for streaming without a contract, offering viewers flexible access to the championship’s unfolding drama. Beyond the tournament itself, golf enthusiasts are reminded of the extensive booking platform that provides access to over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland.
While the promotional text appears repeatedly in the source material, the core message remains: golfers can search by course, city, or postal code to find the best rates and secure tee times. In summary, the Chevron Championship has opened with a thrilling mix of seasoned talent and fresh faces. Nelly Korda’s flawless 65 sets a high bar, but Mimi Rhodes’ poised performance suggests she could be a dark horse as the weeks progress. Charley Hull, still chasing that elusive major win, remains within striking distance, while the rest of the field looks to capitalize on any opportunity.
The next rounds will test consistency, mental fortitude, and the ability to adapt to the challenging Houston course, ultimately deciding who will claim the coveted Chevron title.